Israeli Policy in the Gaza Strip and the Palestinian Refugees, November 1956-March 1957

Abstract

After Israel took control of the Sinai Desert and the Gaza Strip, in the "Kadesh Operation" (1956), Israel faced mounting pressures to withdraw from the territories it had just occupied. Israel's withdrawal from the Sinai, notwithstanding, it kept its control of the Gaza Strip. The strategic and security importance of this region was the basis of Israeli policy. From now on Israel was determined to convince the US and the international community at large of the necessity of the Israeli occupation.
In order to obtain international recognition in favor of its interests in the Gaza Strip, Israel initiated, through the Military Government, many actions to improve the living conditions of the Palestinian population. Simultaneously Israeli policy makers declared that Israel will not allow the return of Egyptian rule over the Gaza Strip.
These combined tactics proved to be futile. Furthermore, against this state of affairs Israel had to deviate from one of its most traditional positions: the negation of the Palestinian refugees' right of return. Israel expressed its willingness to share control of the Gaza Strip with the UN and perhaps more importantly with the Palestinians themselves. In order to obtain international support for its continued occupation, Israel declared its readiness to solve the Palestinian refugee's problem by the annexation of the Gaza Strip.