HEBRON, May 25, 2011 (WAFA) - Israeli intelligence escorted by about soldiers entered At-Tuwani village in the south Hebron hills on Monday raiding a local leader's house, demanding that villagers stop their nonviolent resistance and threatening violent retaliation if the Palestinians persist asserting their rights to the land.

A press release by an international peace groups aid the soldiers first invaded the house of one of the community's nonviolent resistance leaders, searched rooms and the surroundings at gunpoint.

At the same time, four men in civilian clothes, but with military gear and assault rifles, systematically approached local adult men and began questioning them. The four men, later identified as intelligence agents, asked for addresses, phone numbers, places of employments and other personal details.

Intelligence personnel also interrogated villagers about recent demonstrations and direct actions carried out by the community, and demanded that Palestinians cease their nonviolent resistance.

“Do you want to become the father of a martyr?” They asked one of the village leaders, hinting that the occupation forces might retaliate on his children.

Neither soldiers nor intelligence officers gave any reason for the military operation and the prolonged interference in people's privacy and security. Agents also requested that internationals refrain from taking any pictures of the unfolding events but presented no warrants or identification. The intelligence personnel threatened to call the police to arrest the internationals. The operation lasted over two hours.

M.A.