Gazara was, according to the Bible, a fortress of great strength in Judea that figures often in the Maccabean wars.
To this place Judas pursued Gorgias (1 Maccabees 4:15). It was fortified by the Greek general Bacchides (1 Maccabees 9:52; Ant, XIII, i, 3). It was captured by Simon Maccabeus, who turned out the inhabitants and purified the city. He built here a palace for himself, and appointed his son, John, commander of his army (1 Maccabees 13:43). A different account of this occurrence is given in 2 Maccabees 10:32, where the capture is attributed to Judas.
The fortress is identical with Tel Jezer, the ancient Gezer. Recent excavations have uncovered the ruins of Simon's palace.
References
Gazara Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA