A/HRC/8/17 page 7 norms when their conduct affects the human rights of the individuals under their control.12 Moreover, Hamas has indicated that it “is determined (...) to promote the rule of law, the respect for the judiciary, the separation of powers, the respect for human rights, the equality among citizens; to fight all forms of discrimination; to protect public liberties, including the freedom of the press and opinion ...”.13 Hamas has also confirmed its commitment to “respect (...) public liberties; to strengthen the establishment of democracy; to protect human rights (...); and its respect for international law and international humanitarian law insofar as they conform with our character, customs and original traditions”.14 It has further declared that “rights and public liberties are sacred to us, and that the respect for the law is a firm principle that we do not breach”.15 II. PROGRESS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RESOLUTION A. Closure of Gaza General situation 10. During the reporting period, the Gaza Strip remained closed to the outside world, with the exception of limited humanitarian imports and movements of a small number of international visitors, patients requiring emergency care and Palestinians who received exit permits from Israel. The crossing with Egypt at Rafah was exceptionally opened for medical cases between 2 and 12 March 2008. The Karni crossing opened sporadically and only for grain and animal 12 By way of example, in the joint report on Lebanon and Israel, a group of four Special Rapporteurs concluded that: “Although Hezbollah, a non-State actor, cannot become a party to these human rights treaties, it remains subject to the demand of the international community, first expressed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, that every organ of society respect and promote human rights. (…) It is especially appropriate and feasible to call for an armed group to respect human rights norms when it exercises significant control over territory and population and has an identifiable political structure” Report of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Philip Alston; the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, Paul Hunt; the Representative of the Secretary-General on human rights of internally displaced persons, Walter Kälin; and the Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, Miloon Kothari,(A/HRC/2/7), para. 19. See A/HRC/6/76, paras 4-9 for a brief overview of relevant events leading up to Hamas’ takeover of the Gaza strip. 13 Speech delivered by Prime Minister Isma’il Hanya at the conference organized by the PCHR on “The New Government and the Agenda for Human Rights”. Gaza, June 2006. 14 Text of the National Unity Government programme delivered by then Prime Minister Ismail Haniya before the Palestinian Legislative Council, 17 March 2007. http://www.islamicnews.net/Document/ShowDoc09.asp?DocID=91477&TypeID=9&TabIndex=2. 15 Letter to PCHR by Isma’il Hanya on 01 October 2007.