In October 1956, Israeli forces launched an attack on Egypt and occupied Sinai, with British and French troops landing soon after in the Suez Canal Zone. The United Nations was unable to resolve the matter in the Security Council and it was referred to the General Assembly.

UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld put forward his plans for the establishment of the first United Nations peacekeeping force (United Nations Emergency Force), to supervise the withdrawal of the three occupying forces and, after the withdrawal was completed, to act as a buffer between the Egyptian and Israeli forces and to provide impartial supervision of the ceasefire.

Utilizing material from the UN Audiovisual library, this production explores the development of the United Nations Emergency Force.