In 1956, Egypt forbids Israel the access to the Eilat Harbour, which stopped the Israeli trade with a lot of African countries. It was a violation of the international rules, and Israel regarded this action as a declaration of war. It answered to it by a large military campaign in the Sinai Desert. In 1957, after having received international guarantees assuring that Israeli vital leaks would stay open, Israel withdrew its troops. Nevertheless, Egypt refused to give them back the access to the Suez Canal.