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Ben-Gurion Warned of Moral Ruin and Sanctions Over Gaza Rule
Newly released historical documents from the IDF archives, marking the 70th anniversary of the 1956 Sinai Campaign, have revealed the deep reservations of Israel's first Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion, regarding Israeli control over the Gaza Strip.
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What happened
- 01Newly released IDF archives from the 1956 Sinai Campaign reveal David Ben-Gurion's strong opposition to annexing the Gaza Strip.
- 02David Ben-Gurion described Gaza as a malignant danger and famously wished it would sink into the sea.
- 03The former Prime Minister opposed annexation due to the unsustainable burden of absorbing 300,000 Arab civilians.
- 04David Ben-Gurion warned that ruling Gaza could lead to international isolation and make acquiring weapons for Israel difficult.
- 05He expressed security concerns about the potential bombing of Tel Aviv and Haifa in a future war.
- 06The documents were released on a new IDF Archives website marking the 70th anniversary of Operation Kadesh.
- 07The online release includes over 4,500 previously unseen historical documents, photographs, and maps from the 1956 war.
During the conflict, also known as Operation Kadesh, Israel captured the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula for the first time. While Ben-Gurion acknowledged that Gaza was a target Israel was compelled to take, he strongly opposed annexing it, describing the territory as a narrow and problematic strip under any regime. He famously stated that if he believed in miracles, he would wish Gaza would sink into or be swallowed by the sea.
Ben-Gurion warned of severe military, political, international, and moral consequences if Israel attempted to rule the area. He cited the security risks and the unsustainable burden of absorbing 300,000 Arab civilians, especially given widespread Arab and international sympathy for the Palestinians. He also expressed fears of international isolation, which could make acquiring weapons in future conflicts difficult, and warned of a future scenario where Israeli cities like Tel Aviv and Haifa might be bombed.
The newly launched IDF Archives website has made over 4,500 previously unseen documents, photographs, and maps from the 1956 war available online.
Summarized by baba from the reports of 3 newsrooms. Updated
Latest report: Haaretz. Read Haaretz’s originalThe coverage
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