According statistics released by the Palestinian Authority Interior Ministry the numbers of Palestinians killed in internal strife is higher than those killed by the IDF in the first nine month of 2005. The figures showed that 219 Palestinians were killed in internal violence while 218 were killed by the IDF. The ministry pointed out that Fatah’s armed wing, the Aksa Martyrs Brigades, was largely responsible for the continued state of lawlessness and anarchy.