There is increasing evidence that Joshua's conquest of the Levant occurred in the late 13th century-early 12th century BC, and that the destruction of these sites in the Levant can be ascribed to the Israelites. First and foremost is that there is no evidence of an Israelite people in Egyptian records prior to c.1205 BCE with the famous Merneptah stele. Second is the dating of an annular eclipse that can explain the famous lengthening of the day during the Battle of Aijalon to 30th October 1207 BCE (https://academic.oup.com/astrogeo/article/58/5/5.39/4159289?login=false). This date accords well with the dating of the destruction layer of Stratum VII at Lachish to c.1200 BCE, for which a siege of Lachish by Joshua after the Battle of Aijalon is recorded (Joshua 10:31-32). The account in Joshua then states that Hazor was destroyed, specifically noting its destruction by fire, to which the archaeological record agrees and the dating is not inconsistent. Megiddo is also in the list of cities, or rather kings, conquered by Joshua, though no specifics are given in the text. It is noteworthy that the Philistine pentapolis is specifically mentioned as not being conquered by Joshua. Their arrival around the same time and possible patronage by the Egyptians by being allowed to settle in the military outposts of the Pentapolis at that time by Ramesses III (see Papyrus Harris I) is likely a large factor of why they remained unconquered. Of particular interest is the fact that the Israelites were aware that the Philistines originated in Caphtor (Amos 9:7), cognate with Egyptian Keftiu and believed to be Crete, suggesting that they were around when the Philistines first settled in the region. They were also seemingly aware that they were settled by the Egyptians as Caphtor is listed as a son of Mizraim in the Table of Nations, further illustrating that contemporary knowledge. As for whether or not there was violence with the locals relating to the settlement of the Philistines in the area of the Pentapolis, Deuteronomy notes that the Caphtorim (read Philistines) destroyed the inhabitants (Deut.2:23). The use of Caphtorim to describe the Philistines suggests a particularly early date for this passage. One final note is that the destruction of Jericho by Joshua has been noted as an anachronism as Jericho was uninhabited at the time. This supposes a 15th-14th century BCE date for the Exodus and Conquest. However, if we look at a 13th-12th century BCE date for the Conquest, there is evidence for it being significant again by this time as it is listed as a city attacked by Ramesses II during his 3rd Syrian campaign in 1273 BCE.
There is increasing evidence that Joshua's conquest of the Levant occurred in the late 13th century-early 12th century BC, and that the destruction of these sites in the Levant can be ascribed to the Israelites. First and foremost is that there is no evidence of an Israelite people in Egyptian records prior to c.1205 BCE with the famous Merneptah stele. Second is the dating of an annular eclipse that can explain the famous lengthening of the day during the Battle of Aijalon to 30th October 1207 BCE (https://academic.oup.com/astrogeo/article/58/5/5.39/4159289?login=false). This date accords well with the dating of the destruction layer of Stratum VII at Lachish to c.1200 BCE, for which a siege of Lachish by Joshua after the Battle of Aijalon is recorded (Joshua 10:31-32). The account in Joshua then states that Hazor was destroyed, specifically noting its destruction by fire, to which the archaeological record agrees and the dating is not inconsistent. Megiddo is also in the list of cities, or rather kings, conquered by Joshua, though no specifics are given in the text. It is noteworthy that the Philistine pentapolis is specifically mentioned as not being conquered by Joshua. Their arrival around the same time and possible patronage by the Egyptians by being allowed to settle in the military outposts of the Pentapolis at that time by Ramesses III (see Papyrus Harris I) is likely a large factor of why they remained unconquered. Of particular interest is the fact that the Israelites were aware that the Philistines originated in Caphtor (Amos 9:7), cognate with Egyptian Keftiu and believed to be Crete, suggesting that they were around when the Philistines first settled in the region. They were also seemingly aware that they were settled by the Egyptians as Caphtor is listed as a son of Mizraim in the Table of Nations, further illustrating that contemporary knowledge. As for whether or not there was violence with the locals relating to the settlement of the Philistines in the area of the Pentapolis, Deuteronomy notes that the Caphtorim (read Philistines) destroyed the inhabitants (Deut.2:23). The use of Caphtorim to describe the Philistines suggests a particularly early date for this passage. One final note is that the destruction of Jericho by Joshua has been noted as an anachronism as Jericho was uninhabited at the time. This supposes a 15th-14th century BCE date for the Exodus and Conquest. However, if we look at a 13th-12th century BCE date for the Conquest, there is evidence for it being significant again by this time as it is listed as a city attacked by Ramesses II during his 3rd Syrian campaign in 1273 BCE.