As British forces pushed into the deserts of Palestine, they faced off against the Ottoman Empire in the Third Battle of Gaza. The British had been trying to capture Gaza for months, but the Ottomans had dug in deep, fortifying the city with trenches and artillery. Despite being outnumbered, the British launched a surprise attack on November 7, 1917, catching the Ottomans off guard. The fighting was intense, with both sides suffering heavy losses, but in the end, the British emerged victorious, capturing Gaza and paving the way for their eventual march on Jerusalem.