United Nations Emergency Force Approved
The United Nations created a command structure for its first emergency force, intended to supervise the ceasefire and facilitate withdrawal from Egyptian territory.
Role range: 1956-1970
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Gamal Abdel Nasser Biography and Timeline — Page 4
Follow Gamal Abdel Nasser through 277 dated historical records for Egypt.
Gamal Abdel Nasser, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
277Distinct records
4 of 7Page
1956–1956Years on this page
1956
Anglo French Ceasefire Announced
The British and French governments accepted a ceasefire on 6 November, bringing their offensive to a halt while occupying the Port Said area.
Role range: 1956-1970
Egyptian Defenders Resist Allied Street Advance
Gamal Abdel Nasser's government continued to resist the invaders as fighting in and around Port Said caused damage and civilian suffering.
Role range: 1956-1956
Ceasefire Leaves Canal Still Obstructed
The end of major Anglo French fighting did not reopen the Suez Canal because sunken ships and wartime damage remained.
Role range: 1956-1957
Port Said Civilian Population Endures Bombardment
Gamal Abdel Nasser's government reported the human cost of fighting and damage suffered by civilians in the embattled city.
Role range: 1956-1957
War Delays Egyptian Development Plans
The military conflict and canal closure compounded the financial uncertainty surrounding Egypt's High Dam plans after Western funding was withdrawn.
Role range: 1955-1958
Egyptian Ceasefire Compliance Declared
Egypt accepted the cessation of hostilities following international intervention while continuing to demand withdrawal of foreign forces from its territory.
Role range: 1956-1970
United Nations Force Mandate Negotiated
The United Nations approved guiding principles for UNEF while Egypt discussed how the force could supervise a ceasefire without infringing sovereignty.
Role range: 1956-1970
Egypt Discusses Sovereignty Safeguards for UNEF
Gamal Abdel Nasser's government insisted that the presence of United Nations soldiers must respect Egyptian sovereignty and the terms of consent.
Role range: 1956-1957
Egypt Presses for Withdrawal After Fighting Stops
Gamal Abdel Nasser insisted that ending the fighting was insufficient without removing foreign forces occupying Egyptian territory.
Role range: 1956-1957
United Nations Headquarters Opens in Cairo
UNEF began operating from a temporary headquarters in Cairo on 12 November to coordinate ceasefire supervision and preparations for deployment.
Role range: 1956-1970
United Nations Troops Enter Egypt
The first UNEF advance elements reached the Abu Suweir area on 15 November, beginning the physical deployment of United Nations peacekeepers in Egypt.
Role range: 1956-1970
Egypt Permits First UNEF Contingents to Enter
Egyptian consent allowed advance elements of the United Nations Emergency Force to reach Egyptian territory after the ceasefire.
Role range: 1956-1957
Hammarskjold Talks Held in Cairo
Nasser discussed the status and operation of UNEF with United Nations Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold during meetings in Cairo in mid November.
Role range: 1956-1970
Peacekeeping Good Faith Accord Reached
Egypt and the United Nations agreed on principles governing UNEF’s presence and cooperation with Egyptian authorities, preserving the requirement of Egyptian consent.
Role range: 1956-1970
Egypt and UN Agree Peacekeeping Operating Basis
The Egyptian government and United Nations officials clarified the principles governing the emergency force's activities on Egyptian soil.
Role range: 1956-1957
United Nations Enters Port Said
The first United Nations units entered Port Said on 21 November, beginning a gradual replacement of invading forces in parts of the city.
Role range: 1956-1970
British French Withdrawal Schedule Disputed
The General Assembly renewed its demand for rapid withdrawal on 24 November while British and French troops still held positions in Egypt.
Role range: 1956-1970
Egypt Demands Accelerated Port Said Evacuation
Gamal Abdel Nasser's government pressed for an end to all British and French military presence in the city.
Role range: 1956-1957
United Nations Crosses Canal Eastward
UNEF personnel crossed to the east bank of the Suez Canal on 30 November as peacekeeping operations expanded beyond the western side.
Role range: 1956-1970
Canal Closure During Hostilities
Egyptian authorities obstructed the Suez Canal during the invasion, leaving it closed to through shipping while the military crisis continued.
Role range: 1956-1970
Ships Sunk to Block Navigation
Egyptian forces scuttled vessels in the waterway as a denial measure to prevent invading forces and shipping from using the canal during the fighting.
Role range: 1956-1970
Foreign Troop Withdrawal Demanded
Nasser insisted that a ceasefire alone was insufficient and called for the complete departure of British, French and Israeli forces.
Role range: 1956-1970
Peacekeeping Deployment Consent Negotiated
Egypt negotiated with United Nations officials over the entry of an emergency force, with Egyptian consent central to the proposed deployment.
Role range: 1956-1970
Peacekeepers Assigned Ceasefire Observation
United Nations troops monitored the ceasefire around Port Said and the canal, reporting violations and seeking to reduce further clashes.
Role range: 1956-1970
UNEF Buffer Zone Established
United Nations troops took positions separating Anglo French and Egyptian forces, helping stabilise the contested Port Said area.
Role range: 1956-1970
Port Said Civil Authority Cooperation
Egyptian officials cooperated with UNEF personnel on public order and protection of property during the transition from foreign military occupation.
Role range: 1956-1970
Suez War Political Address
Nasser defended Egyptian sovereignty in public statements during the invasion and represented the conflict as resistance to foreign intervention.
Role range: 1956-1970
Egyptian Neutrality Policy Reaffirmed
Egypt continued to defend an independent foreign policy during the Suez conflict rather than accepting control of its strategic decisions by colonial powers.
Role range: 1956-1970
Arab Solidarity During Suez War
Nasser’s government appealed to Arab solidarity as Egypt faced attacks by Britain, France and Israel, making the conflict a major regional political issue.
Role range: 1956-1970
Sovereignty Condition for Peacekeepers
In talks about UNEF, Egypt insisted that the United Nations force could not become a foreign occupation army or override Egyptian sovereignty.
Role range: 1956-1970
Withdrawal Before Political Settlement
Nasser made withdrawal of invading troops a priority, resisting suggestions that foreign occupation should continue until the wider canal dispute was resolved.
Role range: 1956-1970
United Nations Mediation Supported
Egypt engaged with United Nations diplomacy to end the fighting and secure foreign troop withdrawal without surrendering its nationalisation decree.
Role range: 1956-1970
Ceasefire Incidents Monitored
United Nations peacekeepers investigated and reported incidents along the Port Said ceasefire lines in cooperation with Egyptian officials.
Role range: 1956-1970
Egypt Seeks Full Control During Clearance Work
Gamal Abdel Nasser's government maintained its sovereign management claim while negotiations addressed the removal of wrecks.
Role range: 1956-1957
UNEF Separates Israeli Egyptian Lines
United Nations forces took positions between Israeli and Egyptian troops in early December as efforts to stabilise the ceasefire moved eastward.
Role range: 1956-1970
Egyptian Authorities Prepare Postwar Canal Recovery
Egyptian canal administrators planned a return to normal operations while international teams negotiated the removal of sunk vessels.
Role range: 1956-1957
Port Said Final Allied Withdrawal
The remaining British and French troops left Port Said by 22 December, ending their occupation of the Egyptian canal city.
Role range: 1956-1970
Port Said Administration Restored
After the Anglo French withdrawal, Egyptian authorities resumed fuller civil administration in Port Said while UNEF temporarily supported stability.
Role range: 1956-1970
Canal Authority Retains State Control
Following the withdrawal of British and French forces, the Suez Canal Company remained nationalised under Egyptian administration.
Role range: 1956-1970
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.