Welcome to the Evolving Man Project’s “Evolved Man of the Week” profile. Each week we will highlight an individual that embodies what it means to be an evolved person, famous and non-famous individual alike. The world needs to know their stories and deeds. This week’s honor goes to the activist, co-founder, and former coordinator (2007–2018) of the grassroots group Youth Against Settlements, Issa Amro.
Amro’s childhood home was in Hebron’s Old City, close to Shuhada Street, which is now restricted to Palestinians. Amro’s family, including his schoolteacher father, moved to H1 during the First Intifada when he was only seven. Ben Ehrenreich documents this in his book, The Way to the Spring.
Amro represents multiple organizations including ISM’s Hebron branch, the Arab Non-Violence Network, and the Hebron Defenders. Amro supervises the implementation of international human rights and humanitarian law in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Amro promotes the use of nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience as methods to combat the Israeli Occupation of the Palestinian Territories. In 2010, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights declared him the “human rights defender of the year in Palestine.” In 2013, the United Nations Human Rights Council raised concerns for his safety and well-being because of various reports of harassment by Israeli soldiers and settlers, as well as a series of arbitrary arrests.
Amro, during his tours, promptly drew attention to the fact that there are 22 Israeli checkpoints, roughly 100 obstacles to movement, and 1,000 empty Palestinian apartments in Hebron. Amro’s three-hour tour through Hebron offers participants a firsthand view of the violence of the Israeli occupation.
Despite Amro’s fears, Hebron, his city, is here to stay, but he’s concerned about the attention fading on the plight of his people. Amro, a well-known activist and town steward, is prepared to do whatever it takes to resist. To protect Hebron from the violence of the Israeli occupation, he’s ready to sacrifice anything, even his life. Part of his job description right now includes giving tours to visiting journalists and organizers.
Here is Amro in his own words about the Palestinian struggle:
Our struggle is about occupation, future, history, and homeland. Other human rights campaigners document issues, or try to change the situation without working on the ground. Here we live our reality, we experience directly the brutality. We will never give up.
The Evolving Man Project applauds Issa Amro for his tireless work in highlighting the struggles faced by the Palestinian people. In the face of an unprecedented assault on Gaza by IDF forces supported by the United States, a man committed himself to his people and their struggle. Today, we honor Issa Amro as our Evolved Man of the Week.
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