This is a black and white photograph of the funerals of the victims of the Sinai Campaign in 1957. In the photograph you can see a coffin being lowered into a grave, more coffins waiting in the background, and many people standing on the terrace above the graves.
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The Sinai Campaign - The Sinai Campaign, fought jointly by the Israeli, French, and British armies against Egypt, began on October 29 and ended on November 5, 1956. The war began in response to Nasser’s announcement of the nationalization of the Suez Canal (previously administered by France and Britain) and the blocking of the Straits of Tiran to Israeli ships going to and from the port of Eilat, which effectively cut off Israel’s trade with most of the world. Another goal of the war was the destruction of the Fedayeen (Palestinian) terrorists, who, with encouragement from Nasser, were attacking Israeli civilian targets from the Gaza Strip. During the war, Israel conquered the Sinai Peninsula, but for France and Britain the operation was a failure. They lost their status as superpowers, and the UN recognized Egypt’s ownership of the Suez Canal. Israel, on the other hand, achieved several important goals: the opening of the Gulf of Eilat to Israeli ships, the end of Fedayeen operations, and the elimination of the threat on the Egyptian border in addition to an improvement in Israel’s military and economic status. The victory, however, came with a heavy price, and 231 IDF soldiers were killed, several hundred were injured, and one pilot was captured. Under UN pressure, Israel was subsequently made to return the Sinai Peninsula to the Egyptians.
