Issa Amro is a Palestinian human rights activist from Hebron, in the occupied West Bank.He is best known for promoting nonviolent resistance against the Israeli occupation and for documenting human rights abuses in Hebron.

He continues to live in Hebron, where his home and neighborhood are frequently targeted by Israeli settlers and military restrictions.

On October 2025, Parts of the area around his home have been declared a “closed military zone”, limiting his movement and activities.

Background and Work

Born in 1980 in Hebron’s Old City. He is the founder and coordinator of Youth Against Settlements (YAS), a grassroots group that organizes nonviolent protests, media tours, and human rights documentation in areas heavily restricted by Israeli forces and settlers. The group’s mission is to end segregation in Hebron, particularly on Shuhada Street, which Palestinians are largely banned from accessing.

Amro frequently speaks to international delegations, journalists, and human rights organizations about the daily realities faced by Palestinians under occupation.

Arrests and Harassment

Amro has been arrested and tried multiple times by Israeli military courts for his activism — charges that human rights groups like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch describe as politically motivated. He has also faced detention and intimidation from the Palestinian Authority, which has been criticized for repressing dissent.Amnesty International and the United Nations have called for an end to his harassment by both Israeli and Palestinian authorities.

Recognition

Amro has received several international awards and nominations for his commitment to peaceful activism. He has been praised by figures such as Bernie Sanders and Noam Chomsky, and has spoken at the United Nations and universities worldwide about nonviolent resistance.