Amr spearheaded calls for anti-corruption democratic reforms to the Palestinian Authority that Yasir Arafat was reluctant to make.[8][9] Amr complained often about corruption and cronyism in Arafat's administration.[10]
In September 2002, after Amr called for reform of the Palestinian Authority, Arafat had the chief of his special forces fire a number of warning shots at Amr's home.[11]
In July 2004 Amr was shot twice in his right leg, through the window of his house in Ramallah by pro-Arafat gunmen, enraging his clan, which denounced the PA for failing to find the attackers.[12][8] His shooting took place minutes after he returned to his home from a television interview on a popular political talk show, in which he criticised Arafat’s performance as president.[8][13][14] Amr said the attack on him was intended to stifle him from calling for reforms in the Palestinian Authority.[15] Due to injuries from the shooting, Amr's right leg was amputated from the knee down.[6]
He later lived in his hometown of Dura, southwest of Hebron.[16]