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Other Archaeological Sites / The Neolithic of the Levant (500 Page Book Online) Gerar in Israel Updated December 2nd 2019 Zondervan Illustrated Bible Dictionary by J. D. Douglas and Merrill Tenney (2011)
Sir Flinders Petrie conducted the first large-scale excavation of Tell Jemmeh in 1928 --- identifying it incorrectly as the Gerar of the Hebrew Bible (Genesis 20:1-2; 26:1-12) [1].
Biblical researches in Palestine and in the adjacent regions https://ancientneareast.tripod.com/PDF/biblicalresearch02robi.pdf
(1) Camel Caravans and Camel Pastoralists at Tell Jemmeh by Paula Wapnish https://ancientneareast.tripod.com/PDF/2299-camel-caravans-and-camel-pastoralists-at-tell-jemmeh.pdf
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A town and probably also a district
South of Gaza and SW of the southern border of
CANAAN near the MEDITERRANEAN Sea. In its
first occurrence (Genesis 10:19) Gerar is used as a
reference point marking the southern end of the
territory of the Canaanites. ABRAHAM and SARAH
are said to have dwelt in Gerar (in the district
between Kadesh and Shur) where they came in
contact with its king ABIMELECH (20:1-2). This
same ruler, or possibly another in the royal line
who also had the title Abimelech, is called king of
the PHILISTINES in a similar encounter that Isaac
and his wife REBEKAH had with him (26:1, 6-11;
compare also 26:26). Following these experiences Isaac
encamped in the valley of Gerar (26:17) probably
the present Wadi esh-Shari‘ah where Isaac
dug wells and experienced difficult relations with
the herdsmen of the area (26:20). Centuries later,
Asa king of Judah, with the help of God, routed
Ethiopian invaders and pursued them to Gerar
and plundered that whole region (2 Chronicles 14:13-14).
The town Gerar should probably be identified
with Tell Abu Hureireh (Tel Haror) about 9 miles
(15 km) SE of Gaza and 17 miles (27 km) NW
of BEERSHEBA. This site has been excavated and
shows a long period of occupation including that
part of the Middle Bronze period when the patriarchs lived (1800-1600 B.C.). 
