A/HRC/9/26 page 4 (b) The delay of 18 months before the mission could travel to Beit Hanoun and the changes in the physical and political environment in Beit Hanoun and Gaza in this period, most prominently the tightening of the Israeli blockade of Gaza; (c) The rights-based definition of “victim”. C. Methodology 6. In discharging its mandate, the mission employed a methodology under which it: (a) Worked to ensure that its activities remained within its mandate; (b) Placed the factual situation under review within a broader context of events in Gaza; (c) Adopted an inclusive approach to receiving evidence, information and views from concerned parties; (d) Focused on the direct testimony of witnesses and survivors of the shelling as well as inspection of the site; (e) Analysed information received from an international law and human rights perspective; (f) Sought to respect human rights norms in the execution of its mandate; (g) Sought to keep concerned parties informed of developments in efforts to discharge its mandate. 7. The mission regrets that it received no formal input from the Israeli authorities, despite a number of requests. The mission made specific efforts to gather information in the public domain indicating relevant stances of the Government of Israel (including its military) and facts on which its positions are based. Information was also sought and received from Israeli non-governmental organizations. 8. The mission wishes to underline the importance of its travelling to Beit Hanoun to witness first-hand the situation of victims and survivors of the shelling, in particular to comprehend the deep distress of the victims of the shelling and of the population generated by the ongoing blockade. This depth of human suffering is only partially conveyed through the third-party reports on the situation. The mission felt it had to go to Gaza, even if reluctantly through Egypt, to express through its presence the solidarity of the international community with the suffering people, very much like the prophet Ezekiel sitting dumbfounded with his compatriots in their exile in Babylon, or the friends of Job in his suffering. 9. In line with its decision to receive input from all relevant actors, the mission met with senior members of Hamas while in Gaza. The mission also kept the Palestinian Authority apprised of its efforts through the Permanent Mission in Geneva and the office of the President in Ramallah.