Victory Day Egyptians celebrate September 23, celebrating the liberation of Sinai from British, French and Israeli troops. The conflict, in which Egypt ultimately won, was caused by the dispute over the Suez Canal.
On July 26, 1956, the Egyptian government announced the nationalization of the Suez Canal, intending to use the proceeds from its operation to build the Aswan Dam. This decision affected the interests of Western countries that used the channel to transport oil. Already on October 29, the Israelis attacked the positions of the Egyptian military in the Sinai Peninsula, on October 31 the bombing of Egypt was started by the aircraft of England and France. This was followed on November 5 by an Anglo-French landing, which took control of Port Said and most of the Suez Canal. The Israelis captured Sharm el-Sheikh, under their control were almost the entire Sinai Peninsula and the Gaza Strip.
The actions of Britain, France and Israel were strongly condemned by the USSR. Nikita Khrushchev threatened the aggressors with the most decisive actions, including missile strikes. Even the United States has criticized Israel's actions. At the UN General Assembly, a decision was made to end hostilities and bring peacekeeping forces into the conflict zone. As a result, France and England were forced to withdraw their troops, and the next year the occupied territories were liberated by Israel. Since that time, the Egyptians celebrate Victory Day over Israel on September 23.
The celebration takes place in an organized manner, the main centers of the celebrations are Cairo, Port Said, Alexandria and other major cities of the country. Many festively dressed citizens take to the streets, commemorative events are held, parades and solemn processions are organized. The President of the country addresses the citizens with the traditional congratulations on the occasion of the next anniversary of the victory.
Like any holiday dedicated to the confrontation with Israel, Victory Day is celebrated very noisily. It should be noted that in reality Egypt itself did not win any victory in the 1956 war, the troops of the interventionists were withdrawn under the threat of the use of military force by the Soviet Union. The losses of the Egyptian army in this war were 10 times higher than the losses of the Israelis. Nevertheless, the Egyptians consider themselves victors, since the troops of the occupiers were withdrawn from the territory of their country. This is not the only holiday celebrated in connection with the Suez crisis - on December 23, the Egyptians celebrate the day of the liberation of Port Said from the Anglo-French troops.
