 Gaza was granted to Herod the Great by Roman emperor Augustus in 30 BCE , where it formed a separate unit within his kingdom ; and <unk> , the governor of Idumea , was in charge of the city 's affairs . On the division of Herod 's kingdom , it was placed under the proconsul of Syria . After Herod 's death in 4 BCE , Augustus annexed it to the Province of Syria . In 66 CE , Gaza was burned down by Jews during their rebellion against the Romans . However , it remained an important city ; even more so after the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus the following year . Titus passed through Gaza on his march toward to Jerusalem , and again in his return . The establishment of the Roman province of Arabia <unk> restored trade links with Petra and <unk> . 
