Activist Issa Amro noted in his address to a group of tourists in front of his home, next to a sizable olive tree, that their existence was marred by external control. To him, this domination has infiltrated all facets of their daily life; creating an environment so oppressive that staying becomes unbearable. Despite being the bravest Palestinian in Hebron, he admitted feeling threatened in the confines of his own home.
The audience of 28 comprised of individuals from countries like Germany, Switzerland, Nepal, Canada, and Northern Ireland, each participant in the tour arranged by Breaking the Silence. This entity, established by veteran Israeli soldiers, advocates for cessation of military occupation over Palestinian territories. Issa Amro, at 44 years old, conveyed to his audience the pivotal role each could play, despite their origin countries contributing to the problem, they as individuals could be part of the solution.
Amro, who co-established the Youth against Settlements – a Palestinian activist group – resides on Tel Rumeida, a hill in H2. This region, which lies within the Palestinian city of Hebron in the West Bank, southwest of Jerusalem by roughly 30km, is under complete Israeli military rule.
Facing significantly reduced freedom of movement, Amro strategises and utilises social media platforms to bring to light abuses and mobilise for change. To this effect, he has garnered over 73,000 followers on X, 26,000 on Instagram and another 10,000 on Facebook.
Amro explained that he was detained, blindfolded, gagged, beaten, and sexually assaulted by soldiers amidst the Hamas attacks leading to an estimated 1,200 Israeli causalities on October 7th. The New York Times reported on these allegations, and an IDF spokesperson suggested that Amro had the chance to lodge his complaint against the violence through established channels.
Providing an insight into his soldier days in Hebron, Amir Ziv, the pedagogy coordinator at Breaking the Silence B, confessed that he had detained Amro several times. He noted the military’s strategic plans targeted towards sabotaging the livelihood of Palestinians and their presumption of every Palestinian as a potential threat. According to him, innocence is a luxury that Palestinians in the occupied territories cannot afford. Further allegations of continued abuse and unaccountability made by Amro against the IDF, such as the recent “kidnapping and torturing” of his neighbour, remained unaddressed by the IDF spokespersons.
Breaking the Silence has collected unsettling reports from military personnel who were stationed in Hebron. One soldier even claimed that they would stage “mock arrests” on blameless Palestinian households under the guise of nighttime raids, as a means of training rookies.
The organisation’s tour of Hebron initiates at the resting place of Baruch Goldstein, a US-Israeli who orchestrated a mass shooting in 1994. Goldstein ended the lives of 29 Palestinian Muslims and left approximately 125 people wounded when he initiated an attack during a mosque prayer session. Surprisingly, Israel’s radical right-wing security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir idolised Goldstein, even going as far as to imitate his attire, declaring the notorious shooter as his “hero”.
Residing in Kiryat Arba, a colony in the vicinity of Hebron, Ben-Gvir, now aged 48, got exempted from obligatory military duty as a youngster due to his excessive right-wing activism. According to reports from The Associated Press, he was found guilty of various crimes, such as supporting a recognised terrorist faction and committing acts of racial prejudice.
A 2024 study published by the Israeli human rights group, B’tselem, detailed how Palestinians in Israeli confinement reported abuses encompassing frequent instances of extreme, random violence, sexual assault and humiliation, degradation and intentional starvation.
As of July 2024, nearly 10,000 Palestinians were in custody, about half of them were in the so-called “administrative detention”, deprived of the rights to raise charges or defend themselves. The report labelled these centres as “de facto torture camps” and pointed out that this was an “organised, stated” strategy under Ben-Gvir’s guidance. So far, Ben-Gvir’s representatives have failed to return requests for a response.
Continuing through parts of the Hebron’s Old City, sections of which are deemed as a closed military area, the Breaking the Silence tour shows the ubiquity of the Israeli flag, seen in checkpoints and adorning buildings. The Palestinian residents, on the other hand, need special permissions just to get in.
Another guide from Breaking the Silence, Luiz Auerbaj, identifies Hebron as a scaled-down representative model of the Israeli occupation. He points out that around 600 soldiers have transformed a section of the city into a deserted area, all in the name of providing security for slightly over 800 Israeli settlers.
Auerbaj, originally from Brazil, indicates that settlers can occasionally exhibit extreme aggression. He points out the disparity in the law as Palestinians are judged under military law, whilst settlers undergo trials in a civilian court – a difference that leads to significant inequality. They are not subject to the same judicial system nor do they face equal consequences for identical crimes.
Auerbaj highlights Shuhada Street which the Israelis call King David Street. Locally, Palestinians have bestowed the nickname Apartheid Street upon it. Specific protection measures have been made to safeguard Palestinian dwellings here with cages placed over balconies to deter settlers’ stone throwing.
Having first journeyed to Israel as a teen, Auerbaj’s connection with the country felt instinctive. However, he admitted there were more complex issues that he struggled to understand. At that time, the prevailing belief was that they had an area where Arabs resided, and their perceived violent tendencies justified certain defensive actions.
In 2014, Auerbaj joined the Israeli army with a sense of pride, being the first in his family to do so. During the subsequent two years, he started questioning the situation more in-depth. After completing his service, it took him a while to reflect upon his experiences. He ended up joining Breaking the Silence, active since 2004, and now holds the position of Jewish diaspora education co-ordinator – a role he feels could inspire positive changes.
According to figures from the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry, over 40,200 Palestinians have died in the ongoing Gaza conflict. Yet, Palestinians argue that a less conspicuous yet equally destructive conflict is unfolding in the occupied West Bank. The UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) reports that a minimum of 587 Palestinians, 143 of whom are children, have lost their lives to Israeli soldiers and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem from October 7th last year. During the same period, there have been 18 Israeli fatalities. Israeli settlers have simultaneously been extending their reach, with now more than 700,000 residing in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Amro alleges that Palestinian territories are gradually losing their infrastructure. According to him, in his hometown of Hebron, Palestinians are compelled to purchase electricity from an Israeli provider, paying more but receiving less than the Israeli settlers. Similarly, water supply is often inadequate, and it can be challenging for ambulances to reach, as happened recently when it took several hours for an ambulance to attend to an elderly lady.
This month, Médecins Sans Frontières highlighted Amro’s place, H2, as an extremely restricted area within the West Bank, in their report. They stated that 21 permanent Israeli checkpoints were controlling Palestinian mobility and obstructing healthcare workers significantly.
Infringements of international law, including apartheid-like conditions in Palestinian and Israeli territories, have been condemned by leading international human rights organisations like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International. The International Court of Justice in The Hague declared Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories as illegal back in July.
Amro claims that Palestinians in H2 are required to have permits for basic property maintenance and are not permitted to receive guests. He adds that he is prohibited from receiving visits from his extended family. He paints a picture of oppression, where the Israelis obtain legality while Palestinians are criminalised.
Condemning the assaults on his national identity, Amro highlighted the flag of Palestine painted on his wall, as the material ones were consistently attacked. He questions the portrayal of Israel as the sole liberal democracy in the Middle East amidst such situations.
Amro does not spare the Palestinian Authority (PA), criticising their inadequate control over parts of the West Bank and lack of elections since 2006. Although acknowledging the presence of incredible Palestinian leaders, he accuses the ones in power of being corrupt and outdated, and expresses a desire for an autonomous anti-corruption entity to regulate the PA.
Despite such grievances, Amro champions the cause of non-violent resistance. He stands against violence, arguing it widens the divide, and instead advocates for non-violence as a means to become part of the solution. In his view, the struggle is for ‘equal rights’, irrespective of whether it leads to one state or two.
Auerbaj also harbours aspirations for transformation. He remarks, as the Breaking the Silence expedition concludes and the coach reroutes to Jerusalem, that everything witnessed on that day was a product of human choice. Since these are choices made by people, alterations can indeed be made. The key belief he wishes to share is that there exists genuine potential for Israel to change its course. Auerbaj carries a firm belief that the Israelis and Palestinians, both having no intention to vacate the lands they inhabit, must collectively unearth a peaceful resolution, one that favours diplomacy and cohabitation.