1.      Genesis.   The tripartite military action against Egypt by the Anglo-French-Israeli forces in October 1956 resulted in capture of Sinai Peninsula and Gaza strip by the force. A large number of Egyptian troops were taken prisoner. The UN arranged a ceasefire in November 1956 and established a peacekeeping force, UN Emergency Force (UNEF). The creation of UNEF, the first United Nations Peacekeeping Force comprising armed contingents, represented a significant innovation within the United Nations. It was not an enforcement mission, but a peacekeeping mission, to be carried out with the consent and cooperation of the parties. UNEF’s mandate was to supervise the withdrawal of the occupying forces and after the withdrawal had been completed, to act as a buffer between the Egyptian and Israeli forces and provide impartial supervision of the ceasefire. UNEF was stationed entirely on Egyptian territory and with the consent of the Egyptian Government, patrolled the Egypt-Israel armistice demarcation line and the international frontier to the South of the Gaza Strip.

2.      Contribution.    The Indian contingent consisted of Headquarters, Infantry Battalion, Platoon of Army Service Corps, Detachments from the Corps of Signals, Ordnance, Medical, Military Police and Army Postal Service. The Indian contribution accounted for the bulk of the UN forces and more than 12,000 Indian troops took part in UNEF. The Indian Contingents were actively involved in exchange of prisoners, monitoring the withdrawal of Israeli Forces and acted as an effective buffer between the opposing forces.  In the Indian Sector, several posts were set up to observe the boundary line and the troops had to routinely negotiate anti-personnel and anti-tank mines and sustained some casualties. The mission was withdrawn on the behest of Egypt in 1967, just prior to the commencement of the third Arab – Israel war.

Maj Gen (Later Lt Gen) Diwan Prem Chand, Force Commander Being Briefed by Indian Contingent		Demining Operations under progress along the Israel – Egyptian Border