Wednesday 20 May 2009

UN Official: Gaza Probe Goes on without Israeli Okay


UN Official: Gaza Probe Goes on without Israeli Okay

20/05/2009 The head of a United Nations inquiry team said on Wednesday he hopes to visit Gaza and southern occupied territories in early June, and also aims to hold public hearings in the region on alleged war crimes committed there.

Former international prosecutor Richard Goldstone Richard Goldstone, speaking after a meeting with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, said that Israel has not yet officially responded to his four-member team's request to enter the country for the investigation into Israel's military operation in Gaza in late December that killed over 1400 Palestinians, including 420 children and injured more than 5300 others.

"One decision we have taken is we will have a number of days of public hearings. If we can in the region, so much the better, and if necessary we will have them in Geneva," He told reporters.

Goldstone said he was disappointed with the lack of positive response from the Israeli government. He said he wanted to start in the occupied territories to see the Israeli side first.

The UN official added that he approached the Israeli ambassador in Geneva, Aharon Leshno Yaar, several times and even directly appealed to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "But we've really received no official response. There've been media reports of noncooperation but I regard those as unofficial," Goldstone said at a news conference in Geneva. "It would be good to get an official response and I would hope a positive response."

Israel has indicated reluctance to go along with the mission ordered by the UN Human Rights Council because the original instructions were only to check what Israelis did in Gaza, but Goldstone only accepted the assignment if he could see what happened on both sides.

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