the british are trying to beat the ottomans but struggle strategically because the ottoman empire is spread through various areas of arab lands. they are planning to organise an arab revolt to try to get arab countries involved in the battlefield as well. to start the revolt they are searching for an arab leader who can take the lead. they end up focusing on sharif hussein and his family. his family have been loyal and part of the ottoman government for years. they are descendents of muhammed and part of the hashemites. hussein has been named the protect of mecca and medina. however, since the centralisation initiatives of the ottoman sultan abdul hamit ii's hussein feels his power has been threatened. he sees the woi as a great opportunity to start rebelling against the ottoman empire to gain more power again. because he is the protector of mecca and medina he is a good candidate for claiming to be the leader of arab muslims.