Kress von Kressenstein allocated some troops to both Gaza and Beersheba, but held the majority in reserve at Tell esh Sheria and Jemmameh and by mid March the Ottoman Army's 53rd Infantry Division was on its way south from Jaffa to augment these troops.
Kress von Kressenstein allokerede nogle tropper til både Gaza og Beersheba, men holdt hovedparten i reserve omkring Tell esh Sheria og Jemmameh og i midten af marts var den osmanniske armés 53. infanteridivision på vej sydpå fra Jaffa for at slutte sig til disse tropper.