1. Escalating Harassment After BBC Documentary Release
Issa Amro, a well-known Palestinian activist and human rights defender based in Hebron, has been subjected to harassment by Israeli settlers and soldiers following the release of the BBC documentary The Settlers, produced by Louis Theroux. The documentary sheds light on the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements and the worsening conditions faced by Palestinians in the occupied territories.
Footage released by Amro shows armed Israeli settlers and soldiers raiding his home. He reported being threatened with arrest by the police and discouraged from filing a complaint—actions he described as another instance of systemic apartheid in the West Bank. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have previously labeled Israel’s policies in the occupied territories as forms of apartheid.
Amro further stated that the settlers attacking him invoked the support of former U.S. President Donald Trump, claiming his backing for their actions. “They feel emboldened because of the Trump administration’s blind support,” Amro said.
2. International Response and BBC’s Continued Monitoring
Louis Theroux and his team have remained in contact with Amro since the documentary aired. On social media, Theroux acknowledged the latest events, confirming that his team is closely monitoring Amro’s situation.
The BBC’s The Settlers revisits themes first explored in Theroux’s 2012 film The Ultra Zionists, examining the growth of settlements, the ideological motivations behind them, and the legal implications of continued occupation. The film also highlights how Israeli infrastructure and military outposts have expanded further into Palestinian territory—often with the approval or direct support of the Israeli state.
Notably, Theroux himself experienced harassment from Israeli soldiers during filming in Hebron. His team was ordered to leave the area, underscoring the dangers journalists face while reporting in the occupied territories.
3. Pattern of Violence Against Palestinian Voices
The harassment of Amro follows a disturbing trend. In March, Hamdan Ballal—the Palestinian co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land—was similarly attacked. Masked settlers vandalized his home and vehicle, injuring him. Even as he received treatment in an ambulance, Israeli forces blindfolded and arrested him, though he was later released without charge.
These targeted acts are widely perceived as retaliation against Palestinians who document and expose Israeli actions in the occupied territories. They also illustrate the increasing risks faced by journalists and activists alike. The targeting of Amro and Ballal occurs amid a broader campaign of violence in which more than 200 journalists have reportedly been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza.
Meanwhile, the United Nations and International Court of Justice have repeatedly condemned Israeli settlement activity and called for an end to the occupation. Settlements remain a major obstacle to the realization of a two-state solution, with over 700,000 Israeli settlers now residing illegally on Palestinian land in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
