The 1956 Suez Canal Conflict
The 1948 armistice agreements did not bring permanent peace. They were constantly violated by the Arab states. In contradiction to the UN Security Council resolution passed on September 1, 1951, ships to and from Israeli were prevented from passing through the Suez Canal, which effectively stopped Israeli sea trade; the blockade of the Straits of Tiran was tightened; terrorist squads from neighboring Arab countries terrorized and sabotaged Israel, its people and security with increasing frequency, killing 1,300 Jewish civilians in an operation that Arab terrorists called "Fedayeen"; and the Sinai peninsula was gradually converted into a huge Egyptian military base.
Upon the signing of a military alliance by Egypt, Syria and Jordan in October 1956, the threat to Israel's existence was increased even more, so Israel attacked Egypt. In the course of an eight-day military campaign, the IDF captured the Gaza Strip and the entire Sinai peninsula, halting 10 miles east of the Suez Canal. According to a UN sponsored agreement, Israel withdrew from the captured land, but in return Egypt let the UN Emergency Force (UNEF) to be stationed there. Consequently, the Straits of Tiran were opened, enabling the development of trade with Asian and East African countries as well as oil imports from the Persian Gulf.
The UNEF was stationed at first in the Suez Canal sector and the Sinai peninsula. Later along the Armistice Demarcation Line in the Gaza area and the international frontier in the Sinai peninsula (on the Egyptian side). The UNEF's headquarters were in Gaza and they stayed there from November 1956 to June 1967. There were 6,073 military personnel, supported by international and locally recruited civilian staff. 107 people, including 1 civilian member of the staff and 106 military personelle. The procedure cost the UN $214,249,000.
The UNEF established to secure and supervise the cessation of hostilities, including the withdrawal of the armed forces of France, Israel and the United Kingdom from Egyptian territory and, after the withdrawal, to serve as a buffer between the Egyptian and Israeli forces. In May 1967, Egypt compels UNEF I to withdraw, which was followed by the 1967 Six-Day War.
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