Sarah Saad
The people of Sinai played a crucial role in securing victory during the October 1973 War, acting as keen-eyed observers who meticulously monitored and relayed Israeli military movements to the Egyptian Armed Forces.
Maj. Gen. Fouad Nassar, former director of Military Intelligence, acknowledged the people of Sinai’s invaluable contributions, telling late president Anwar Sadat that the Egyptians did not have satellites at the time.
“But we had the sharp and honest eyes of the people of Sinai,” Maj. Gen. Nassar said. “Without them, the October War victory would not have been possible.”
The selection of Sinai’s brave men for intelligence missions was based on their exceptional skills and ability to execute highly sensitive operations. Some were assigned to reconnoitre and gather intelligence, utilising the most advanced cameras available at the time.
Disguising themselves among flocks of sheep and wearing woollen garments to blend seamlessly into their surroundings, they covertly tracked enemy movements and transmitted vital information to the Egyptian command.
Among these heroic figures was the legendary Moussa Ruwaished, known as the “Mines Engineer,” who specialised in planting explosives along Israeli military routes.
His numerous successful operations made him a prime target for Israeli intelligence, yet he remained elusive and was never captured.
Another prominent figure, Sheikh Samhan Mosti Mutair, a respected tribal leader in South Sinai, provided crucial support to Egyptian armed forces and used radio broadcasts to rally local tribes, urging them to stand firm.
Sheikh Mete’ab Hagrass, leader of the El-Bayadin tribe, joined the Sinai Arab Organisation and was the first to assist Egyptian soldiers in crossing back to the western bank of the Suez Canal after June 1967. He was later arrested and imprisoned in Israeli jails before becoming the first martyr to be buried in Sinai after 1977.
Women’s vital role in war
Sinai’s women also played a vital role in the resistance. Faheema, the first Bedouin woman to work with the Sinai Arab Organisation, valiantly carried a portable radio transmitter and delivered supplies to the military personnel stationed behind enemy lines.
She displayed remarkable bravery by sheltering one of the fedaayeen for an extended period, an act of heroism that earned her national recognition and an official honour from the President of Egypt.
Sheikh Eid Abu Jreir was instrumental in recovering hidden weapons following the 1967 setback and returning them to the Egyptian forces. Additionally, he identified and recommended young men from Sinai for intelligence training, where they excelled. His dedication was acknowledged when former minister of defence Mohamed Sadeq personally visited him to express gratitude for his efforts.
Shallash Khaled al-Arabi, nicknamed the “Hudhud (Hoopoe) of Bir al-Abd” for his unparalleled intelligence-gathering abilities, was considered one of the most formidable espionage threats to Israel, which placed a significant bounty on his capture. Having achieved 46 successful missions behind enemy lines, he was eventually arrested in 1968 and sentenced to 93 years in prison.
Freedom fighter Ouda Moussa Mutair planted landmines in the Tenka and Abu Zenima regions of Sinai and was arrested twice on charges of collaborating with Egyptian intelligence.
However, he remained undeterred, continuing his mission and later receiving recognition from the minister of defence.
Similarly, Hassan Ali Khalaf, well-known as the “Black Panther,” carried out numerous courageous operations, including an attack on the Israeli command headquarters in Al-Arish.
Ouda Sabah al-Waimi of the Tarabin tribe played a critical role in alerting Egyptian military intelligence to Israeli preparations for crossing water barriers. He provided photographic evidence of the enemy’s equipment and was the first to warn of a potential breach at the Deversoir area during the war.
These examples and others show that the people of Sinai proved to be Egypt’s first line of defence, demonstrating unmatched courage and sacrifice in securing victory and restoring the land. Their legacy stands as an enduring symbol of patriotism and unwavering devotion to the nation.
