Ben-Gurion's Gaza Stance Revealed: 'Wish It Would Sink Into the Sea'
Translated & summarized from Kan News by baba
Newly revealed documents from David Ben-Gurion, Israel's first Prime Minister, show his strong reservations about annexing the Gaza Strip during the 1956 Sinai Campaign. He stated, "If I believed in miracles, I would wish it would sink into the sea," citing security risks and the burden of 300,000 Arab civilians. The IDF archive released these and other materials, including over 4,500 previously unseen documents, photographs, and maps related to the war.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- David Ben-Gurion called Gaza a "malignant danger" and wished it would "sink into the sea."
- Ben-Gurion opposed annexing Gaza due to the burden of 300,000 Arab civilians.
- He worried about international isolation and difficulty acquiring weapons if Israel became a pariah.
- The IDF archive released previously unseen documents from the 1956 Sinai Campaign.
- Over 4,500 documents, photos, and maps related to the war are now available online.
Newly revealed remarks from Israel's first Prime Minister and former Defense Minister, David Ben-Gurion, made during the 1956 Sinai Campaign, express his complex views on the Gaza Strip. Launched as part of the 70th anniversary of the war, the IDF archive released documents including Ben-Gurion's statement: "We must take it. If I believed in miracles, I would wish it would sink into the sea." He acknowledged the potential international difficulties and security risks associated with occupying Gaza, calling it a "malignant danger." Ben-Gurion also voiced concerns about potential international isolation and the difficulty of acquiring weapons in a future conflict if Israel were to become a pariah state. He strongly opposed annexing Gaza, citing the addition of 300,000 Arab civilians as a burden Israel could not sustain, especially given the widespread Arab world support for the Palestinians and international sympathy. He understood the security challenges faced by border communities like Nahal Oz and Nirim, but stated that "larger considerations" were at play. The IDF archive's new website features over 4,500 previously unseen photographs, documents, and maps detailing the war's preparations, decisions, and events.
