During the summer, the hot, southerly Khamsin winds, which could "rage" for days "like blasts from a furnace," blew so strongly that tents and marquees were blown down, leaving behind drifts of sand and fine dust, which could even block the railway line.

The fine dust found around Gaza was considered worse than the soft heavy sand, which, in a sand storm, hit the skin like red-hot needles, and filled eyes, ears, noses, and mouths.
The dust would be stirred by a sea breeze that began at about 10:00 from the west or northwest, and which would continue blowing until dark.
During this time the soldiers breathed dust, ate dust, and were wrapped in dust while sleeping in their bivouacs.
Sand and dust got everywhere, but sand was considerably easier to cope with as it was "always clean and easy to shake away," but the "filthy, vile dust fog" clung to perspiring skin.

The area behind the front line was subject to constant traffic, which broke up the surfaces of all roads and tracks in the region, which became 12 inches (30 cm) or more deep with very fine dust.
This dust lifted, even in light wind, to cover everything moving in a white cloud.
As such clouds on the alluvial plain was an accurate indicator of troop movements, no offensive marches were made during daylight. "
The dust raised by the horses is awful and meals are a tribulation."

With 30,000 troops in a limited area of light clay soil for the dry summer, steps were taken to manage the dust problem.
In the vicinity of camps, all traffic was restricted to certain main roads and tracks, which were swept bare, and with wire netting pegged across.
The heap of dust along the edges of each road would be formed into a "curb" on each side, with boards placed against the curbs to indicate the way ahead.
During the summer, the hot, southerly Khamsin winds, which could "rage" for days "like blasts from a furnace," blew so strongly that tents and marquees were blown down, leaving behind drifts of sand and fine dust, which could even block the railway line.
The fine dust found around Gaza was considered worse than the soft heavy sand, which, in a sand storm, hit the skin like red-hot needles, and filled eyes, ears, noses, and mouths. The dust would be stirred by a sea breeze that began at about 10:00 from the west or northwest, and which would continue blowing until dark. During this time the soldiers breathed dust, ate dust, and were wrapped in dust while sleeping in their bivouacs. Sand and dust got everywhere, but sand was considerably easier to cope with as it was "always clean and easy to shake away," but the "filthy, vile dust fog" clung to perspiring skin.
The area behind the front line was subject to constant traffic, which broke up the surfaces of all roads and tracks in the region, which became 12 inches (30 cm) or more deep with very fine dust. This dust lifted, even in light wind, to cover everything moving in a white cloud. As such clouds on the alluvial plain was an accurate indicator of troop movements, no offensive marches were made during daylight. "The dust raised by the horses is awful and meals are a tribulation."
With 30,000 troops in a limited area of light clay soil for the dry summer, steps were taken to manage the dust problem. In the vicinity of camps, all traffic was restricted to certain main roads and tracks, which were swept bare, and with wire netting pegged across. The heap of dust along the edges of each road would be formed into a "curb" on each side, with boards placed against the curbs to indicate the way ahead.
Stalemate in Southern Palestine