Nasser: The leader of Egypt. He wanted Egypt to be neutral and was not interested in joining anti-Soviet alliances. This neutrality worried the West.

🌍 Real-world example: Imagine if during a big schoolyard fight between two groups, one of the strongest kids decides to stand by the side and not support any team. This makes the teams anxious because they're not sure whose side the kid will take if they decide to jump in.

Israel was worried about Egypt for different reasons

• Palestinian raids: Egypt was encouraging Palestinian attacks on Israel.

• Nasser's influence: The Israelis wanted to weaken Nasser, potentially even remove him from power.

🎯 Key Quote: Ben-Gurion, the Israeli leader, expressed the desire to topple Nasser, comparing it to a "mitzvah" (sacred obligation). He mockingly referred to Nasser as "NasserShmasser", implying he wasn't a significant figu

• Objective: Israel wanted to showcase Nasser as weak militarily.

• Result: In February 1955, Israeli forces launched an attack on the Egyptian army headquarters in Gaza, resulting in:

  • Destruction of the headquarters.

  • Death of 35 Egyptian soldiers.

  💥 Fun Fact: Imagine if in a game of chess, one player takes out the other's queen early on. That's a big move! Similarly, Israel's attack was a bold statement, aiming to display their dominance.

• Reaction in Gaza: For the next three days, Palestinian refugees in Gaza protested, demanding weapons for self-defense.

• Cairo's Response: In the Egyptian capital, crowds demanded revenge against Israel.

  🔍 Real-world example: Think of it like a football match. If Team A scores against Team B, the fans of Team B will cheer louder, demanding their team to equalize or take the lead. The sentiment in Gaza and Cairo was similar, seeking a counter to Israel's move.