October 21st, 1956
Sevres Delegation Authorised
Jerusalem
Ben-Gurion authorises senior Israeli participation in secret talks with Britain and France at Sevres.
World History Database / Suez War / Those involved
David Ben-Gurion
Israel
Prime Minister of Israel
42 archival records
October 22nd, 1956
Ben Gurion Arrives for Secret Sevres Talks
Sevres
David Ben-Gurion led the Israeli delegation to secret talks near Paris to obtain assurances about proposed French and British participation in an attack on Egypt.
October 22nd, 1956
Israeli Leadership Reviews Coordinated Sinai Strategy
Jerusalem
David Ben Gurion negotiated the political framework for an attack on Egypt during secret discussions with British and French representatives at Sevres.
October 22nd, 1956
Sevres Military Accord Negotiated
Sevres
Ben Gurion participated in secret talks coordinating Israeli military action with Britain and France during the Suez crisis.
October 23rd, 1956
Israel Seeks Written Guarantee of Support
Sevres
David Ben-Gurion pressed for a written commitment because he wanted confidence that Britain and France would act after Israel entered Sinai.
October 24th, 1956
Ben Gurion Signs Secret Sevres Protocol
Sevres
David Ben-Gurion signed the confidential tripartite record setting out Israel's role in the impending Suez operation.
October 24th, 1956
Israel Commits to October Twenty Ninth Offensive
Sevres
David Ben-Gurion agreed to a plan under which Israel would begin a major attack on Egyptian forces on 29 October.
October 24th, 1956
Israel Receives Conditional Exemption From Ultimatum
Sevres
David Ben-Gurion secured a clause that did not require Israeli compliance with withdrawal terms if Egypt rejected the ultimatum directed to it.
October 24th, 1956
Israeli Nonaggression Commitment Toward Jordan Recorded
Sevres
David Ben-Gurion accepted a commitment not to attack Jordan during the operation against Egypt, subject to the protocol's stated conditions.
October 24th, 1956
Protocol of Sevres
Sevres
Signs the secret Protocol of Sevres setting out the coordinated Israeli, British, and French plan against Egypt.
October 24th, 1956
Secret Protocol Signed for Israel
Sevres
Ben-Gurion signs the Sevres protocol committing Israel to begin the Sinai operation.
October 24th, 1956
Western Gulf of Aqaba Objective Agreed
Sevres
Ben-Gurion accepts the secret plan giving Israel military objectives along Sinai and the Gulf of Aqaba.
October 28th, 1956
Government Authorizes Sinai Campaign Launch
Jerusalem
David Ben Gurion approved the final Israeli move against Egyptian forces in Sinai under the broader arrangements made with France and Britain.
October 28th, 1956
Operation Kadesh Political Approval
Jerusalem
Ben-Gurion gives final political approval for the Sinai offensive.
October 28th, 1956
Secret Agreement Shapes Israeli Cabinet Briefing
Jerusalem
David Ben-Gurion sought approval for the Sinai invasion without fully disclosing the secret tripartite arrangements to all Israeli ministers.
October 28th, 1956
Sinai Campaign Cabinet Authorization
Jerusalem
David Ben-Gurion submitted the planned Sinai offensive to the Israeli cabinet for approval while keeping its coordination with France and Britain restricted to a small circle.
October 29th, 1956
Declaration of War
Jerusalem
Authorises the Israeli attack on Egypt, framing it as a campaign to end fedayeen attacks and open navigation.
October 29th, 1956
Invasion of Sinai
Sinai
Israel launches Operation Kadesh, invading the Gaza Strip and Sinai Peninsula and advancing toward the Suez Canal Zone.
October 30th, 1956
Canal Ultimatum Follows Israeli Invasion
Jerusalem
David Ben-Gurion's government received the British and French demand that both armies halt fighting and withdraw from the canal area, a demand rooted in the secret Sèvres arrangement.
October 30th, 1956
Israeli Advance Triggers Canal Ultimatum
Jerusalem
Britain and France demanded military withdrawals from the canal area after the Israeli offensive, following arrangements secretly negotiated with Israel.
October 30th, 1956
Israeli Cabinet Considers Ultimatum Terms
Jerusalem
David Ben Gurion responded to the ultimatum in accordance with the coordinated plan that anticipated a British and French military intervention.
November 1956
Rule of Gaza
Gaza
Israel captures Gaza and the Gaza Strip during the Sinai Campaign.
November 1956
Siege of Gaza
Gaza
Israeli forces move into Gaza as part of the Sinai Campaign during the Suez crisis.
November 1956
Withdrawal
Jerusalem
Faces American and United Nations pressure to withdraw Israeli forces from captured Egyptian territory.
November 1st, 1956
Sinai Victories Announced
Jerusalem
Ben-Gurion reports major Israeli gains as forces advance across Sinai.
November 2nd, 1956
United Nations Demands Israeli Withdrawal
Jerusalem
David Ben Gurion faced a General Assembly resolution demanding that forces cease fighting and withdraw behind established armistice lines.
November 3rd, 1956
Sinai Occupation Consolidated
Jerusalem
Ben-Gurion's government begins consolidating control over captured positions in Sinai and Gaza.
November 4th, 1956
Israeli Government Asserts Sinai Security Aims
Jerusalem
David Ben Gurion framed the campaign around border security and access to maritime routes while foreign governments demanded deescalation.
November 5th, 1956
Gulf of Aqaba Access Claimed
Jerusalem
Ben Gurion presented the seizure of the southern Sinai position as an achievement for Israeli shipping access.
November 5th, 1956
Sharm El Sheikh Capture Opens Aqaba Access
Sharm El Sheikh
David Ben-Gurion's government achieved a central war objective when Israeli troops captured Sharm el-Sheikh, undermining the Egyptian blockade of the Gulf of Aqaba.
November 5th, 1956
Straits of Tiran Access Restored
Jerusalem
Ben-Gurion hails the capture of Sharm el-Sheikh as restoring Israeli access through the Straits of Tiran.
November 6th, 1956
Ceasefire Pressure Ends Initial Sinai Advance
Jerusalem
Israeli leaders confronted international pressure to stop the fighting as Britain and France accepted a ceasefire and peacekeeping arrangements advanced.
November 6th, 1956
Ceasefire Terms Considered
Jerusalem
Ben-Gurion considers international ceasefire demands while Israeli forces hold Sinai and Gaza.
November 6th, 1956
International Ceasefire Alters Sinai Campaign
Jerusalem
David Ben-Gurion faced growing demands to cease hostilities after the United Nations called for an end to the fighting across Egypt and Sinai.
November 6th, 1956
Mitla Battle Enters Israeli Campaign Assessment
Jerusalem
David Ben-Gurion's government faced the aftermath of the Sinai fighting, including the losses suffered by soldiers at Mitla Pass.
November 7th, 1956
Sinai War Results Addressed
Jerusalem
Ben Gurion discussed Israel's battlefield gains before international pressure forced his government to reconsider territorial objectives.
November 8th, 1956
International Withdrawal Pressure Mounts
Jerusalem
United States and United Nations pressure challenged Israel's continued occupation of territory captured during Operation Kadesh.
November 8th, 1956
Israel Faces Intensifying Withdrawal Demands
Jerusalem
David Ben-Gurion resisted immediate pressure to leave Sinai and Gaza while international diplomacy focused on reversing the wartime occupations.
November 8th, 1956
Israel Faces Separate Demands for Withdrawal
Jerusalem
David Ben Gurion confronted pressure to relinquish captured Sinai and Gaza positions after major hostilities had ceased.
November 8th, 1956
Israeli Occupation Faces Postwar Withdrawal Dispute
Jerusalem
Although the main campaign had ended, David Ben Gurion resisted immediate unconditional withdrawal from all territory captured during the Sinai operation.
November 8th, 1956
Sinai Annexation Claim Abandoned
Jerusalem
Ben Gurion retreated from public suggestions that Israel could permanently retain the entire Sinai Peninsula.
March 7th, 1957
Israeli Withdrawal Completes Major Postwar Separation
Jerusalem
Israeli forces left their remaining positions in Egyptian territory, easing the principal unresolved territorial problem after the Suez fighting.