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Ben-Gurion's Views on Gaza Occupation Revealed
Newly revealed documents show former Israeli Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion supported occupying Gaza in 1956 for military reasons but opposed annexation, fearing it would isolate Israel and hinder arms acquisition. He described his desire for Gaza to be "swallowed by the sea" due to the potential long-term costs.
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What happened
- 01David Ben-Gurion opposed annexing Gaza after the 1956 war, fearing international isolation and difficulty acquiring weapons.
- 02Ben-Gurion described his wish for Gaza to be "swallowed by the sea" in a conversation with IDF officers.
- 03The Gaza Strip had a population of about 300,000, including 180,000 to 190,000 refugees, in 1956.
- 04IDF archives released documents marking the 70th anniversary of the Sinai War (Operation Kadesh).
- 05Shimon Peres discussed past difficulties in obtaining weapons for Israel.
- 06Operation Kadesh led to Israel's withdrawal from Gaza and Sinai due to international pressure.
The documents, released by the IDF archives for the 70th anniversary of the Sinai War, also include insights from Shimon Peres on past arms procurement challenges.
The coverage
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