Apr 15th, 2009 | JERUSALEM — An Israeli government official says Israel is “very unlikely” to cooperate with a U.N. probe into whether Israel and Hamas committed war crimes in the recent Gaza war.

The investigation is headed by Richard Goldstone, former chief prosecutor for war crimes in Yugoslavia and Rwanda. Goldstone was appointed by the U.N.’s Human Rights Council this month.

The Israeli official said Wednesday that Israel sent its response a week ago. He spoke on condition of anonymity and said he could not elaborate because it’s not clear if Goldstone has been briefed.

The New York-based group Human Rights Watch urged Israel and Hamas to cooperate. Rights groups say they suspect both sides violated rules of war in Gaza.

Hamas said Wednesday it would cooperate.