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Israel War of Independence
The original signed correspondence from the prime minister of Egypt Mahmoud El Nokrashy Pasha to Pablo de Azcárate “Pablo de Azcarate, Representative for the United Nations and Mediator for Palestine’, telling him that the cease fire has been agreed to and has gone into effect on Oct 21/22.
Nokrashy Pasha, Mahmoud El (1888-1948). Egyptian Prime Minister (1945-1948). TLS as Prime Minister, 1 p., “Prime Minister’s Office, Cairo.” October 22, 1948. Addressed to Pablo de Azcarate, Representative for the United Nations and Mediator for Palestine. Nokrashi typed, I have the honor to inform you that orders have been issued to cease fire on the Egyptian lines as from 2 p.m. Cairo today.
Following the assassination of Ahmad Mahir, Nokrashy was the second person elected Prime Minister to the Kingdom of Egypt. His first term lasted only a few weeks after anti-British demonstrations in Cairo. He returned to his position a month later. After outlawing the Muslim Brotherhood, due to a suspected coup, and becoming military governor of Egypt he was assassinated by a member of the Muslim Brotherhood.
This letter is reference to establishing the Third Truce with Israel and Eygypt.
On 22 October, the third truce went into effect.
Battles still occurred even after this truce and on December 22, large IDF forces started Operation Horev. Its objective was to encircle the Egyptian Army in the Gaza Strip and force the Egyptians into ending the war. The operation was a decisive Israeli victory, and Israeli raids into the Nitzana area and the Sinai peninsula forced the Egyptian army into the Gaza Strip, where it was encircled. Israeli forces withdrew from Sinai and Gaza under international pressure and after the British threatened to intervene against Israel. The Egyptian government announced, 6 January 1949, that they were willing to enter armistice negotiations. General Yigal Allon persuaded Ben-Gurion to continue as planned, but Ben-Gurion told him: "Do you know the value of peace talks with Egypt? After all, that is our great dream!"He was sure that Transjordan and the other Arab states would follow suit. On 7 January 1949, a truce was achieved.
On 5 March, Israel launched Operation Uvda; by 10 March, the Israelis reached Umm Rashrash (where Eilat was built later) and took it without a battle. The Negev Brigade and Golani Brigade took part in the operation. They raised a hand-made flag ("The Ink Flag") and claimed Umm Rashrash for Israel.
Original Cease Fire agreement Israel War of Independence
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