Empire 297. Gaza in WW1: A Rematch For Gallipoli (Part 7)
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Oct 8, 2025 Eugene Rogan, a historian and author specializing in the modern Middle East, offers fascinating insights into the failed British assault on Gaza in 1917. He discusses General Murray's tactical missteps and how General Allenby’s innovative strategies transformed the battlefield. The conversation explores the intricate connections between Gaza and the Gallipoli campaign, wartime diplomacy, and the implications of the Balfour Declaration. Rogan also highlights the experiences of Ottoman troops and the critical logistics that defined military outcomes in the region.
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The War As The Great Transformative Moment
- The First World War transformed the Arab world by ending four centuries of Ottoman rule and enabling new national identities to emerge.
- European powers simultaneously planned imperial divisions, reshaping the Middle East's political map.
Sykes-Picot As Partition Diplomacy
- Sykes-Picot was shorthand for a longer wartime diplomatic partition process among Britain, France and Russia.
- The allies prioritised imperial balance over creating a stable post‑Ottoman Middle East.
Palestine Held The Key To Suez Security
- Britain defended the Suez Canal by holding Palestine because Sinai lacked water resources for armies.
- Ottoman attacks on Sinai convinced the British Palestine was essential to canal security.
