The Israeli navy seized a fishing boat and arrested four fishermen off the Mediterranean coast near Gaza City Thursday afternoon. The navy said it stopped the boat after its occupants refused their calls to stop.
Eyewitnesses cited by the Bethlehem-based Maan news agency said several naval vessels blocked the path of the fishermen and fired at them. No injuries were reported.
Hamas has increased its attempts to use the sea for smuggling weapons into Gaza as Egypt makes it more difficult to smuggle them in by land, according to Maariv/nrg. The news service says the terror group has issued warnings against seizures like today's being used by Israel as an opportunity to recruit agents.