Al Aqaba (Village) / Jordan Valley, Gochya, Hamra (Beqaot), Khalet Makhul
Bezek Checkpoint, 10:15 – We passed by.
Hot!!! The temperature in the car reads 39° C. (102° F).
Because of the severe lack of water available to the residents of the Valley who are not Jews, we photographed installations of the Israeli Mekorot Water Company that operates intensively in the Jordan Valley to give the favored Jewish settlers water at the expense of the local Palestinians. The photo shows stolen water in broad daylight.
Flocks in the field are gathered under improvised coverings made of sacks of jute or by the proximity to the encampment.
On the side of the road that goes up to the town of Aqaba, we see one man and 2-3 taxis. It is entirely reasonable to see this during these hot days of Ramadan. One army vehicle travels eastward and at the entrance to the army camp, Tevets, in the shade of the flag of the Kfir regiment, soldiers were waiting for transportation.
Aqaba: The central park is adorned with lights, which are probably used by the Arab residents in the area after Iftar, the Ramadan dinner feast.
We visited a packing house for tea; we bought a package of herbal tea and gave an elderly man a ride to his town.
Allon Road: The area of army exercises is empty.
Gochya: The Gate was open when we came and when we left.
The post at Hamra Junction, 11:35
The road into the post is open. There is no active checkpoint but there is a permanent watchtower that stands at the junction within the courtyard that is surrounded by a concrete wall. The female soldiers at the post are busy unloading items from an army truck (a sack of carrots and other things). One of the soldiers approached us to find out who we are. She hadn’t heard of us and never saw people like us at the checkpoint while it is active. We told her about Machsom Watch and she summarized: “Ah, I see that you are against . . .” In answer to our question, she responded on the good feelings she has when she is on duty for the security of the State. As for the checkpoints, they function “according to the need.” They are at the post for four days and on the other days, they are busy in the camp (that is at the continuation of the road eastward to Hamra Junction), with “mounted patrols” and other things.
Halt Makhul – We met the family of A. and the family of B. and also a group from Taayush (An Arab and Jewish political activist group). Two families received clothes and shoes from us.
Settlement of Maskiot – We photographed the synagogue.
Settlement of Rotem – It doesn’t appear that there are any changes in the new settlement at the bottom of Rotem.
Bezeq Checkpoint – 12:45 – We pass by.
Al-'Aqaba (village) / Jordan Valley
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Al Aqaba is located in Area C, in the northern Jordan Valley and near the Tayasir checkpoint. The village is well-kept, clean and tidy, but suffers greatly from the presence of soldiers at the Tayasir camp.
Following a deadly attack on soldiers at the base near Tayasir in February 2025, the checkpoint was closed completely for the time being. This cut off the connection between the northern Jordan Valley and the Nablus area. MachsomWatch cannot currently reach Aqaba, because Israelis are not allowed to pass through the checkpoint.
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Gochya
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Gochya checkpoint, which is opposite Beqaot settlement, is a metal bar blocking a dirt road in the Jordan Valley that prevents residents living in the eastern Jordan Valley from travelling freely to the western Jordan Valley and back again. This checkpoint, which is supposed to open only three times a week for half an hour (and usually doesn’t open at all), prevents residents living in the eastern Jordan Valley from accessing the town of Tamun, for example, which serves as a regional urban center. They’re prevented from maintaining contact with family members, obtaining medical treatment, getting to school and shopping, etc. Children from the eastern Jordan Valley are compelled to live during the week with families in Tamun to insure they are able to attend school regularly. The locals must make long detours, and risk severe punishment if they’re caught. In order to prevent them from bypassing the checkpoint, the IDF dug a series of long, deep ditches around the checkpoint and created very high earthen berms.
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Hamra (Beqaot)
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One of the Jordan Rift Valley checkpoints that prevent direct transit between the West Bank and the Jordan Valley, in addition to Tayasir Checkpoint. Located next to Hamra settlement, on Route 57 and the Allon Road.
Read about the peple of the Jordan Valley and the quiet transfer happening there.
Shahar ShiloahNov-3-2021Ein Shibli: grazing begins close to home
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Khalet Makhul
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Khalet Makhul
A small settlement of a shepherd community located on the way to the settlement of Hemdat. Two nearby outposts make life miserable for the Palestinians, who make a living from grazing, and the army backs the settlers. As a result, the possible grazing areas are getting smaller.
The local children attend school in the settlement of Ein Al-Beida. Long lines of 3 hours sometimes stretch out at the Hamra and Tayasir checkpoints leading to the town of Tubas, making it difficult to get water, supplies, and sell the cheese, milk, and meat that the residents produce for their living.
Following a deadly attack at the Tayasir checkpoint in February 2025, the checkpoint was closed completely for the time being.
(Updated March 2025)
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