In September 1970 Egyptian President, Gamal Abdel Nasserdied of a heart attack. Nasser had been in power in Egypt since 24 November 1954. He was succeeded by Muhammad Anwar Sadat in 1970. Nasser had been described as the first leader of an Arab nation who challenged what was perceived as the western dominance of the Middle East. However, Nasser suffered a major blow when Egypt and other Arab nations were defeated by Israel in a war that lasted only six days in 1967. At the time, Egypt was seen as the leading Arab nation and that Arab people looked up to for leadership. For him, the comprehensive defeat of his army by Israel was a major blow and he offered his resignation.Nasser is still highly revered in both Egypt and the Arab world.
eventREF E-0093673Revised
28 September 1970
Egyptian President, Gamal Abdel Nasser dies of a heart attack
- Updated
- 30 Sep 2019
How we know this
- 01University of Liverpool, ‘Gamal Abdel Nasser’, [online], available at www.historylearningsite.co.uk[Accessed: 05 September 2012]
- 02Anwar Sadat,‘Anwar Sadat’, [online], available at sadat.umd.edu[Accessed: 05 September 2012]
- 03Boddy-Evans A. ‘This day in African History: 28 September’, from About African History, [online], available at www.africanhistory.about.com[Accessed: 5 September 2012]
Last updated · 30 Sep 2019
South African History Online. (2012, September 20). Egyptian President, Gamal Abdel Nasser dies of a heart attack. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0093673
South African History Online (2012) 'Egyptian President, Gamal Abdel Nasser dies of a heart attack', South African History Online, 20 September. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0093673 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).
South African History Online, Egyptian President, Gamal Abdel Nasser dies of a heart attack [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0093673, (accessed 12 October 2026).
"Egyptian President, Gamal Abdel Nasser dies of a heart attack." South African History Online, 20 Sept. 2012, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0093673. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.
South African History Online. "Egyptian President, Gamal Abdel Nasser dies of a heart attack." South African History Online. September 20, 2012. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0093673.
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