It made slow progress against the stubborn Ottoman defenders, who were supported by bombing from German planes, while the advance guard of Ottoman reinforcements, from Khan Yunus in the north and Shellal in the east, were attacking the two troops of the Wellington Mounted Rifles Regiment.
Det kom langsomt frem mod de stædige osmanniske forsvarer, som blev støttet af bombardement fra tyske fly, mens fortroppen af de osmanniske forstærkninger fra Khan Yunus i nord og Shellal i øst angreb de to tropper af Wellington Mounted Rifles Regiment.