He proposed keeping two divisions at El Arish, moving his headquarters there, while his mounted division would advance to reoccupy Rafa (captured by the Desert Column on 9 January during the Battle of Rafa).
Han foreslog, at man beholdte de to divisioner ved al-Arish og flyttede hovedkvarteret dertil, mens hans beredne division rykkede frem for at besætte Rafah (der blev erobret af Ørkenkolonnen den 9. januar under slaget ved Rafah).