In this series, we are discussing the events of World War I that led to the partition of the Ottoman Empire.
This is episode 5-23: Aqaba and Gaza.
Before we get into the episode, let’s do a brief recap of where we are so far:
- By the end of 1916, it is clear the Arab Revolt will fail without significant British support
- The British decide to investigate using the Arabs as a guerrilla force to distract the Ottomans
- Meanwhile, the British make significant advances in the Middle East
- They capture the Sinai Peninsula in February 1917 and Baghdad in March 1917
- Now, less than thirty miles from Gaza, the British are preparing to invade Palestine
And with that, let’s begin our discussion of the stalemate in Gaza.
Trenches and Tanks
World War One is primarily known for the extensive use of trench warfare by all sides. When one mentions fighting in the first World War, young men huddled in trenches is the most common visual image.