The Egyptian Gazette of March 3, 1955 carried a front-page report highlighting the gravity of the situation and Egypt's request for an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council to probe the Israeli aggression. Headlined: Security Council meeting on Gaza tomorrow Will consider Israel's ‘violent and premeditated aggression' The Gazette report said: “The United Nations Security Council will meet in urgent session on Friday at 3 p.m. (10 p.m. Cairo time) to discuss Egypt's charges of Israeli aggression near Gaza........ “Mr. Omar Lotfi, Egyptian Ambassador and spokesman before the Council, charged that Israel violated the 1949 Egyptian-Israeli Armistice Agreement. In asking for an urgent meeting, he said that his government ‘is convinced that the examination of this question by the Security Council is called for without delay.' Later, The Egyptian Gazette of March 23, 1955 quoted an Egyptian spokesman as saying that “the Gaza incident was ‘smothered' in the UN Truce Supervisor's report to the Security Council. The spokesman added that Egypt will protest strongly against this development. The Egyptian Mail of March 5, 1955 reported in its front-page the United Nations' handling of the Israeli aggression on Gaza. Headlined: UN delegates denounce Israel for Gaza incident Council debate adjourned for report by Gen. Burns the report said: “The UN Security Council today called upon Israel and Egypt to refrain from further use of force along their common border. At the same time, the Council sent an urgent summons to Major General E. Burns, Truce Chief in Palestine, to fly to New York and give a first-hand report on the Gaza incident. “Before the Council's decision, the representatives of Israel and Egypt listened to a series of speeches condemning the use of force. It was clear that a majority of the delegates, while reserving final judgment, held Israel responsible for the Gaza incident." Reporting Arab reaction to the Israeli attacks on Gaza, The Egyptian Gazette of March 6, 1955 said; “................ Mr. Camille Shamun, Lebanese President, tonight presided over the second Cabinet meeting to be held in 24 hours to discuss the situation. It is learned that contacts have taken place in this connection between the Syrian and Lebanese authorities and that they have agreed to support any steps taken by Egypt as a result of the Israeli attacks. “Sayed Gamal Toukan, Jordanian Ambassador in Beirut, today called on President (Camille) Shamun to discuss the same subject. It is learned that he told him that Jordan would support Egypt in any steps she deemed necessary to take. “Meanwhile, the Pakistani Prime Minister, Mr. Mohamed Ali, said today that he was ‘deeply shocked to hear about the attack by Israeli troops on Egyptian forces in the Gaza Strip. “In London, British officials are continuing to watch the border situation with anxiety and attention is now focused on the inquiry by the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO). [email protected]
