Masil al-Jizl

The village was located on a flat tract of land, overlooking a wide open area to the east, followed by the Jordan Valley. Between the banks of the Jordan River were two fords—al-Turaykhim and al-Saghir—which served as crossing points into the Jordan Valley to the east. A secondary road connected the village to Baysan, while other smaller roads linked it to the main road between Baysan and eastern Jordan.

Masil al-Jazl was originally established by members of the nomadic Arab al-Zaynati tribe. Some of their homes were scattered among the springs from which they obtained their water, while others were spread along the roads connecting Masil al-Jazl to Baysan and to nearby villages. Most of these houses were built from mud bricks and reeds.

In 1945, the village had an estimated population of around 100 Muslim inhabitants. Their livelihood was based on agriculture, primarily the cultivation of grains and vegetables. In 1944/1945, a total of 702 dunums was allocated for grain crops, and 252 dunums were irrigated or used for orchards. To the south of the village extended the Kutr, a narrow strip of uncultivated land running parallel to the Jordan River, marked by a row of palm trees along its edges.

At least three archaeological sites surrounded Masil al-Jazl: Tell al-Qataf, Khirbat al-Hajj Mahmoud, and Tell al-Shaykh Dawud. These sites contained pottery fragments, flint tools, and the foundations of buildings. In 1929, the remains of a small mosque were discovered near the village, on Tell al-Shaykh Muhammad al-Qabu.

Occupation and Ethnic Cleansing of the Village

Although no specific details are available regarding the occupation of the village, it is likely that it was captured around the time other villages near the Jordan River in the Baysan area fell. The Golani Brigade overran most of these villages in late May 1948. It is probable that the inhabitants were expelled to East Jordan, as occurred with the residents of other nearby villages.

The Village Today

The site is now partially covered by fish ponds and storage facilities belonging to Kibbutz Kfar Ruppin. The waters of Masil al-Jazl flow through the kibbutz.

Zionist Settlements on Village Lands

The Zionists established the colony of Kfar Ruppin to the north of the village in 1938, on lands that were traditionally considered part of the village territory.