Operation Black Arrow

Operation Black Arrow
Part of the Retribution operations
Five fedayeen marauders killed by Israeli border police in chase after attack near Nir Galim.
Date February 28, 1955 Location Gaza Result Israeli victory
Belligerents
Israel	Egypt
Commanders and leaders
Ariel Sharon Danny Matt Aharon Davidi
Casualties and losses
8 killed	34–38 killed

Operation Black Arrow (Hebrew: מבצע חץ שחור‎‎ Mivtza Ḥetz Shaḥor) was an Israeli military operation carried out in Gaza (while under Egyptian control) on 28 February 1955. The operation targeted the Egyptian army. Thirty-eight Egyptian soldiers were killed during the operation as were eight Israelis.^[1]

Background

The 1948 Arab–Israeli War resulted in a decisive Israeli victory. However, the Arab nations remained intransigent and were only willing to sign armistice agreements with Israel. Thus, a static situation of “no war, no peace,” emerged. Moreover, hundreds of thousands of Arab refugees now camped alongside Israel’s porous borders. The refugees lived in squalor, were kept under martial law and were prevented from gaining citizenship in their respective Arab host countries.^[2] Arab governments, but in particular Egypt, sensing the refugees’ discontent, capitalized on the opportunity to recruit embittered Palestinians for armed actions against Israel. At first, the infiltrations and border transgressions took the form of petty banditry and thievery.^[3] However, by 1954, Egyptian military intelligence was taking an active role in providing various forms of support for Palestinian fedayeen activity.^[4] After an attack by the fedayeen, Israel decided to take decisive action against Egypt for its sponsorship of the Palestinians and initiated Operation Black Arrow.

Casus Belli

Aharon Davidi (center), one of the commanders who led the attack, with Ariel Sharon (left)

On February 25, 1955, Arab infiltrators murdered an Israeli civilian in the town of Rehovot.^[5][6][7] One of the militants who was pursued and killed by Israeli forces was found to be in possession of documents linking him to Egyptian military intelligence.^[5] Defense Minister David Ben-Gurion and Chief of Staff Moshe Dayan demanded a harsh response directed against those believed to have sponsored the atrocity. Prime Minister Moshe Sharett was more hesitant but demurred.

The attack

On February 28, Ariel Sharon, commander of the Paratroop Brigade was issued the go-ahead to initiate Operation Black Arrow. That night, a force of 150 paratroops, led by Aharon Davidi and Danny Matt attacked an Egyptian army base near the city of Gaza.^[5] An Egyptian military relief convoy was ambushed en route. In total, either thirty-seven^[5] or thirty-eight^[8] Egyptian soldiers were killed and many more injured for the loss of eight Israelis.

Aftermath

In Egypt there was a sense of humiliation. Not since the Arab-Israeli war of 1948 had the Egyptians suffered such a humiliating blow.^[9] The Israeli attack was unanimously condemned by the United Nations Security Council.^[10] In response President Nasser of Egypt decided to close the Gulf of Aqaba to Israeli shipping and air traffic.^[10] He also increased support for Palestinian fedayeen raids, which invited even harsher Israeli retaliatory raids such as Operation Elkayam (72 Egyptian KIA) and Operation Volcano (81 Egyptian KIA, 55 captured).^[11] Tensions between Egypt and Israel ultimately led to Israel taking part in the invasion of the Sinai Peninsula and Suez Canal alongside the United Kingdom and France (who held different motivations for invading) in which the Egyptian army was defeated and its fedayeen bases disbanded.^[12]

References