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This city, located in Upper Galilee, was one of the largest and most fortified in northern Israel throughout the Bronze and Iron Ages (Israelite period). It served as a key connection point between Babylon, Syria, Egypt, and the Mediterranean Sea.
A burnt palace was discovered here, dating back to the time when Joshua (יהושע = in Hebrew, Yehoshua) conquered Hazor during his campaign in Canaan. Later, King Solomon (שלמה = in Hebrew, Shlomo) fortified it and designated it as the northern capital, alongside Megiddo in the center and Gezer in the south.

Joshua’s conquest: Joshua 11:10
King Solomon’s fortification: 1 Kings 9:15

During the fierce revolt of the people of Israel against the Romans in 66 BCE, several centers of rebellion emerged across the land. The most famous is Masada in Judea, where the Zealots chose to take their own lives rather than be enslaved by the Romans.
Here in Gamla (גמלא), the situation was somewhat different, as the inhabitants fought to the very end. Initially, the fighters managed to drive out the Romans, but were later defeated by Roman forces, now heavily armed and having learned from the Hebrews’ tactics.
At first, due to the large number of human remains and weapons found at the foot of the mountain, it was believed that the fighters in Gamla had followed the same path as the Zealots in Masada. However, archaeologists later concluded that the Hebrews were pushed to their deaths.
The name Gamla likely derives from the Hebrew word *Gamal* (גמל = camel), as the mountain resembles the shape of a camel.