Background
Allied operations in the Middle East were at this time, secondary to the Western Front and the reinforcements General Sir Archibald Murray, commander of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force had requested, were denied. Instead he was required by the Chief of the Imperial General Staff Field Marshal William Robertson to be ready to send possibly two infantry divisions to France. On 17 January 1917, Murray received the request for one infantry division to be sent to France and dispatched the British 42nd Division. At the same time the War Cabinet assured Murray that he would not lose any of his mounted troops, but deferred large scale operations in Palestine until the autumn. Murray was, however, not discouraged from employing his current force as he saw fit.
Read more about this topic: First Battle Of Gaza
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