Breaking
On the 70th anniversary of Operation Kadesh (Suez Campaign), the Israeli Defence Ministry has released thousands of historical archive documents, including maps, photographs, and recorded conversations. Among the newly declassified materials are remarks by then-Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion expressing severe criticism of Gaza, stating he wished it would be “swallowed by the sea” if he believed in miracles.
The IDF archives contain over 4,500 previously unpublished documents, photographs, and maps from the 1956 operation. Ben-Gurion’s statements reveal his deep concerns about future conflicts, warning that “Tel Aviv will be bombed, Haifa will be bombed, and women and children will be killed.” The documents also include rare materials from Shimon Peres detailing the dramatic decisions made during that period.
The release of these historical records provides insight into longstanding Israeli policy debates regarding the Gaza Strip that remain relevant to contemporary political discourse. The materials demonstrate how moral and political calculations regarding Gaza have been central to Israeli strategic thinking for decades, even as the nation faced immediate security threats from the 1956 conflict.
Sources: Ynet, www.israelhayom.co.il, Walla
