By December 1948, the IDF boasted 100,000 well-armed troops, complete with a Navy and an Air Force. Determined to push the remaining Egyptian forces out of the Negev, the Egyptians braced themselves for a direct attack against their well-defended lines. Meanwhile, the IDF undertook deceptive maneuvers to convince the Egyptians that a straightforward assault was indeed their plan.

Contrary to this ruse, Israeli commanders Yadin and Allon planned a bold push directly toward El Arish, the main Egyptian base in Sinai, thereby completely cutting off the Egyptian forces. Their strategy required seizing Al-Auja, to which the direct path was heavily defended. Utilizing his expertise as an archaeologist, Yadin discovered an old Roman road, which scouts deemed passable with a bit of work. Over three days, an IDF convoy traversed this path, arriving at Al-Auja on December 26th, catching the Egyptians by surprise. Despite some initial resistance, the Egyptians surrendered by the end of the day.

With the road to El Arish and further into Sinai now open, Allon directed his troops toward El Arish. On December 29th, the Security Council issued a mandate for an immediate ceasefire. Citing the Anglo-Egyptian Treaty and threatening intervention, the British demanded that Israel withdraw from Sinai. On January 2nd, Ben-Gurion ordered Allon to pull back his troops. However, Allon insisted on seizing the heights overlooking Rafah. The likelihood of a British intervention escalated on January 7th, 1949, when the Israeli Air Force shot down four British fighters that were flying in formation with Egyptian planes.

On January 12th, 1949, Egypt issued an ultimatum, refusing to initiate armistice negotiations unless Israel withdrew from the Rafah Heights. Ben-Gurion decided it was time to seek an agreement with Egypt and ordered Allon to pull back. This withdrawal allowed the remaining encircled British brigade in the Faluja gap to retreat to Sinai.

The War of Independence included one final chapter, known as “Operation Uvda”. During this operation, Israeli forces raced down the Arava and raised the flag at Eilat, thereby securing Eilat and its Red Sea access as the southern border of Israel.