 Settlement in the region of Gaza dates back to 3300 – 3000 BCE at Tell as @-@ Sakan , a site located south of the present @-@ day city , which began as an Ancient Egyptian fortress built in Canaanite territory . Tell as @-@ Sakan prospered as Canaanite cities began to trade agricultural goods with the Egyptians . However , when Egypt 's economic interests shifted to the cedar trade with Lebanon , Gaza 's role was reduced to that of a port for ships carrying goods and it declined economically . The site was virtually abandoned and remained so throughout the Early Bronze Age II . 
