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{{Short description|1955 Israeli military operation}}
{{Infobox Military Conflict
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict = Operation Black Arrow
| partof = the [[Retribution operations]]
| conflict = Operation Black Arrow
| partof = the [[reprisal operations]] (during the [[Palestinian Fedayeen insurgency]])
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| image =
| caption =
| image = Fedayeen 1956.jpg
| date = February 28, 1955
| image_size = 300
| caption = Five [[fedayeen]] killed by Israeli border police in chase after attack near [[Nir Galim]].
⚫
| place = Gaza
| date = {{start and end dates|1955|02|28|1955|03|01|df=yes}} (two days)
⚫
| result = Israeli victory
| place = [[Egyptian-occupied Gaza Strip]]
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| combatant1 = {{flagicon|Israel}} [[Israel]]
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| result = Israeli victory
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| combatant2 = {{flag|Egypt|UAR}}
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| combatant1 = {{flag|Israel}}
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| commander1 = [[Ariel Sharon]]<br>[[Danny Matt]]<br>[[Aharon Davidi]]
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| combatant2 = {{flag|Egypt|1952}}
| commander2 =
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| commander1 = {{Flagicon|Israel|military}} [[Ariel Sharon]]<br>{{Flagicon|Israel|military}} [[Danny Matt]]<br>{{Flagicon|Israel|military}} [[Aharon Davidi]]
| strength1 =
| strength2 =
| commander2 =
⚫
| strength1 =
⚫
| casualties1 = 8 killed
⚫
| strength2 =
⚫
| casualties2 = 38 killed
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| casualties1 = 8 killed and 13 wounded
| campaignbox =
⚫
| casualties2 = 37–38 killed and 31 wounded
| campaignbox = {{Campaignbox Palestinian Fedayeen insurgency}}
| coordinates = {{coord |31|30|48|N|34|28|49|E|type:event|display=inline,title}}
| units1 = [[File:35th Brigade IDF.svg|21px]] [[Paratroopers Brigade]]
}}
}}
'''Operation Black Arrow ''' ({{lang-he|חץ שחור}} ''Hetz Shachor'') 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.<ref>Spencer Tucker, The encyclopedia of the Arab-Israeli conflict, ABC-CLIO, (2008) p.1162</ref>
'''Operation Black Arrow ''' ({{langx|he|מבצע חץ שחור|translit=Mivtza Ḥetz Shaḥor}}) was an Israeli military operation carried out in [[Gaza City|Gaza]] (while [[Occupation of the Gaza Strip by the United Arab Republic|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.<ref>Spencer Tucker, ''The encyclopedia of the Arab-Israeli conflict'', ABC-CLIO, (2008) p. 1162</ref>

Israel's actions were unanimously condemned by [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 106]].


==Background==
==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 and were kept under martial law.<ref>Zeev Schiff, ''History of the Israeli Army'', Straight Arrow Books (1974), pp. 220–22</ref> 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.<ref>Schiff, pp. 222–23</ref> However, by 1954, Egyptian military intelligence was taking an active role in providing various forms of support for [[Palestinian fedayeen]] activity.<ref>Schiff pp. 224–25</ref> 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==
⚫
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.<ref>Zeev Schiff, History of the Israeli Army, Straight Arrow Books (1974), p 220-222</ref> Arab governments, but in particular Egypt, sensing the refugees’ discontent, capitalized on the opportunity to recruit embittered Palestinians for terrorist actions against Israel. At first, the infiltrations and border transgressions took the form of petty banditry and thievery.<ref>Schiff, p.222-223</ref> However, by 1954, Egyptian military intelligence was taking an active role in providing various forms of support for Palestinian ([[Fedayeen]]) terrorist activity.<ref>Schiff p. 224-225</ref> After one such atrocity, Israel decided to take decisive action against Egypt for its sponsorship of terror and initiated Operation Black Arrow.
⚫
On 25 February 1955, Arab infiltrators murdered an Israeli civilian in the town of [[Rehovot]].<ref name=Karmel>Hesi Karmel, ''Intelligence for peace: the role of intelligence in times of peace'', Frank Cass (1999) p. 56</ref><ref>Michael Oren, ''Origins of the Second Arab-Israeli war, Egypt, Israel and the Great Powers'', Frank Cass (1992), p. 25</ref><ref>Benny Morris, ''Righteous victims: a history of the Zionist-Arab conflict'', 1881–1999, Vintage (1999, 2001) p. 283</ref> One of the terrorists who was pursued and killed by Israeli forces was found to be in possession of documents linking him to Egyptian military intelligence.<ref name=Karmel/> 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.


==Casus Belli==
==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 paratroopers, led by [[Aharon Davidi]] and [[Danny Matt]], attacked an Egyptian base near the city of Gaza.<ref name= Karmel/> An Egyptian military relief convoy was ambushed en route. In total, either thirty-seven<ref name=Karmel/> or thirty-eight<ref>Spencer Tucker, p. 1162</ref> Egyptian soldiers were killed and many more injured for the loss of eight Israelis.
[[File:Davidi sharon.jpeg|thumb|right|[[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 [[Rechovot]].<ref>Hesi Karmel, Intelligence for peace: the role of intelligence in times of peace, Frank Cass (1999) p.56</ref><ref>Michael Oren, Origins of the Second Arab-Israeli war, Egypt, Israel and the Great Powers, Frank Cass (1992), p.25</ref><ref>Benny Morris, Righteous victims: a history of the Zionist-Arab conflict, 1881-1999, Vintage (1999, 2001) p. 283</ref> One of the terrorists who was pursued and killed by Israeli forces was found to be in possession of documents linking him to Egyptian military intelligence.<ref>Karmel (1999), p. 56</ref> 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==
==Aftermath==
⚫
In Egypt there was a sense of humiliation. Not since the Arab–Israeli war of 1948 had the Egyptians suffered such a blow.<ref>Morris, (1999) p. 283</ref> The Israeli attack was [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 106|unanimously condemned]] by the [[United Nations Security Council]].<ref name="Rasler38">{{Citation |last1=Rasler |first1=Karen |last2=William R. |first2=Thompson |first3=Sumit |last3=Ganguly |title=How Rivalries End |year=2013 |publisher=[[University of Pennsylvania Press]] |isbn=978-0-8122-4498-4 |pages=38–39}}</ref> In response President Nasser decided to close the [[Gulf of Aqaba]] to Israeli shipping and air traffic.<ref name="Rasler38"/> He also increased support for Palestinian fedayeen raids, which invited even harsher Israeli retaliatory raids such as [[Operation Elkayam]] (72 Egyptian [[Killed in action|KIA]]) and [[Operation Volcano (Israeli raid)|Operation Volcano]] (81 Egyptian KIA, 55 captured).<ref>Zeʼev Derori, ''Israel's reprisal policy, 1953–1956: the dynamics of military retaliation'', Frank Cass (2005) p. 152</ref> Tensions between Egypt and Israel ultimately led to Israel taking part in the [[Suez Crisis|invasion]] of the [[Sinai Peninsula]] and [[Suez Canal]] alongside the [[United Kingdom]] and [[France]] (who held different motivations for invading) in which the Egyptians were defeated and the Fedayeen bases disbanded.<ref>Schiff (1974) pp. 227–28</ref>


==Memorial==
⚫
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.<ref>Karmel (1999) p. 56</ref> An Egyptian military relief convoy was ambushed in route. In total, between thirty-seven<ref>Karmel, 56</ref> and thirty-eight<ref>Spencer, 1162</ref> Egyptian soldiers were killed and many more injured for the loss of eight Israelis.
[[File:PikiWiki Israel 14860 The black arrow.jpg|thumb|Black Arrow memorial]]


A memorial <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kkl-jnf.org/tourism-and-recreation/tours/black-arrow-memorial.aspx|access-date=22 July 2017|title=Black Arrow Memorial|website=[[Jewish National Fund]]}}</ref> to this operation and other [[Paratroopers Brigade|IDF paratrooper]] operations is situated between [[Kibbutz]] [[Mefalsim]] and the Gaza Strip.
==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.<ref>Morris, (1999) p. 283</ref> Egypt decided to ratchet up its sponsorship of Palestinian terror infiltrations which invited even harsher Israeli retaliatory raids such as [[Operation Elkayam]] (72 Egyptian [[KIA]]) and [[Operation Volcano (Israeli raid)|Operation Volcano]] (81 Egyptian KIA, 55 captured).<ref>Zeʼev Derori, Israel's reprisal policy, 1953-1956: the dynamics of military retaliation, Frank Cass (2005) p. 152</ref> Ultimately, Egyptian provocations such as terror sponsorship and the closure of the [[Gulf of Eilat]] to Israeli shipping and air traffic were factors that led to [[Operation Kadesh]] in which the Egyptian army was soundly defeated and its [[Fedayeen]] bases disbanded.<ref>Schiff (1974) p. 227-228</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://archives.mod.gov.il/sites/English/Exhibitions/Pages/Operation-Black-Arrow.aspx Operation Black Arrow, Exhibition in the IDF&Defense establishment archives]

{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Black Arrow 1955}}
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[[Category:Counter-terrorism]]
[[Category:Israel Defense Forces]]
[[Category:Counterterrorism in Israel]]
[[Category:Special forces of Israel]]
[[Category:Egypt in the Arab–Israeli conflict]]
[[Category:Retribution operations]]
[[Category:Operations involving Israeli special forces]]
[[Category:Reprisal operations (Israel)]]
[[Category:Ariel Sharon]]
[[Category:Ariel Sharon]]
⚫
[[Category:Conflicts in 1955]]
[[Category:1955 in Israel]]
[[Category:1955 in Egypt]]
[[Category:Gaza City in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict]]
[[Category:February 1955 events in Asia]]
[[Category:March 1955 events in Asia]]
[[Category:Ambushes of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict]]
[[Category:Attacks on military installations in the 1950s]]
[[Category:Attacks on buildings and structures in the Gaza Strip]]
[[Category:Attacks on military installations in the State of Palestine]]

Latest revision as of 13:37, 3 January 2025

Operation Black Arrow
Part of the reprisal operations (during the Palestinian Fedayeen insurgency)

Five fedayeen killed by Israeli border police in chase after attack near Nir Galim.
Date28 February – 1 March 1955 (1955-02-28 – 1955-03-01) (two days)
Location
Egyptian-occupied Gaza Strip
31°30′48″N 34°28′49″E / 31.51333°N 34.48028°E / 31.51333; 34.48028
Result Israeli victory
Belligerents
 Israel  Egypt
Commanders and leaders
Israel Ariel Sharon
Israel Danny Matt
Israel Aharon Davidi
Units involved
Paratroopers Brigade
Casualties and losses
8 killed and 13 wounded 37–38 killed and 31 wounded

Operation Black Arrow (Hebrew: מבצע חץ שחור, romanized: 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]

Israel's actions were unanimously condemned by United Nations Security Council Resolution 106.

Background

[edit]

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 and were kept under martial law.[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

[edit]

On 25 February 1955, Arab infiltrators murdered an Israeli civilian in the town of Rehovot.[5][6][7] One of the terrorists 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.

Attack

[edit]

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 paratroopers, led by Aharon Davidi and Danny Matt, attacked an Egyptian 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

[edit]

In Egypt there was a sense of humiliation. Not since the Arab–Israeli war of 1948 had the Egyptians suffered such a blow.[9] The Israeli attack was unanimously condemned by the United Nations Security Council.[10] In response President Nasser 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 Egyptians were defeated and the Fedayeen bases disbanded.[12]

Memorial

[edit]
Black Arrow memorial

A memorial [13] to this operation and other IDF paratrooper operations is situated between Kibbutz Mefalsim and the Gaza Strip.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Spencer Tucker, The encyclopedia of the Arab-Israeli conflict, ABC-CLIO, (2008) p. 1162
  2. ^ Zeev Schiff, History of the Israeli Army, Straight Arrow Books (1974), pp. 220–22
  3. ^ Schiff, pp. 222–23
  4. ^ Schiff pp. 224–25
  5. ^ a b c d Hesi Karmel, Intelligence for peace: the role of intelligence in times of peace, Frank Cass (1999) p. 56
  6. ^ Michael Oren, Origins of the Second Arab-Israeli war, Egypt, Israel and the Great Powers, Frank Cass (1992), p. 25
  7. ^ Benny Morris, Righteous victims: a history of the Zionist-Arab conflict, 1881–1999, Vintage (1999, 2001) p. 283
  8. ^ Spencer Tucker, p. 1162
  9. ^ Morris, (1999) p. 283
  10. ^ a b Rasler, Karen; William R., Thompson; Ganguly, Sumit (2013), How Rivalries End, University of Pennsylvania Press, pp. 38–39, ISBN 978-0-8122-4498-4
  11. ^ Zeʼev Derori, Israel's reprisal policy, 1953–1956: the dynamics of military retaliation, Frank Cass (2005) p. 152
  12. ^ Schiff (1974) pp. 227–28
  13. ^ "Black Arrow Memorial". Jewish National Fund. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
[edit]
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