The Bernadotte plan had proposed that the Negev should be part of the Arab state, thus, making it evident that the only way to alter the plan required changing the facts on the ground. By the time the second truce was implemented, most of the Negev was occupied by the Egyptians, with the exception of only a few isolated kibbutzim. During the truce, the Israeli army continued to expand. They also sent additional troops to reinforce the isolated settlements. In total, Yigal Allon, Commander of the Southern Front, had 30,000 fully equipped soldiers at his command, waiting for the opportune moment to deploy them.

On October 14th, 1948, Allon was granted that opportunity when the IDF received approval to resupply the settlements. When a convoy reached one of the settlements, an explosion occurred from a bomb previously planted by the IDF. This incident served as an excuse for the IDF to spring into action. With a significantly expanded Air Force, they launched immediate attacks on Egyptian positions, supply routes, and railway lines. Following the aerial strikes, the Army advanced up the coastal road towards Beit Hanoun.

However, this was not the main attack. The primary focus was the assault on the Egyptian fortifications at Iraq al-Manshiya. This was a fierce battle with numerous casualties on both sides, but the Israelis emerged victorious. On October 20th, the Israeli Army launched an attack on the heavily defended Huleiqat, which was the anchor of Egyptian forces in the Negev. Following its capture by the Israelis, the entire Negev region became accessible. Subsequently, Allon dispatched three brigades to Beersheva, which they swiftly conquered.

Before the UN Security Council could enforce another ceasefire, the Egyptians withdrew as many of their troops as they could by sea. During this operation, the IDF sunk two Egyptian Naval vessels, including their flagship, the Emir Farouk, which went down with 700 soldiers on board. When the hostilities finally came to a total halt, 3,000 Egyptian troops found themselves surrounded in the Faluja pocket.