Baldwin III of Jerusalem
Around 1150, Baldwin III of Jerusalem rebuilt the Gaza City, which at that point lay in ruins. The city was handed over to the Knights Templar, and provided some defense against the continual raids from Ascalon, to the northeast. Since the establishment of the kingdom, other fortresses had also been built to watch Ascalon. These were Ibelin (Yibneh) about northeast of Ascalon near the coast, Blanchegarde (Tell es Safi) about east-northeast, Beth Gibelin (Bait Jibrin) about east and Montgisard near Ramla to the northeast.