Geneva: Israel has blocked a planned Desmond Tutu-led UN mission to investigate the deaths of 19 Gaza civilians from Israeli shelling last month. The South African anti-apartheid campaigner was not granted the necessary travel clearance, UN officials said.

"It's not about the man. It's about the process," said Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev, who said travel approval is still "pending."

"Unfortunately, we see this mechanism of the Human Rights Council is being exploited for political reasons."

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