ISRAEL’S navy arrested four Palestinian fishermen and seized their boat today in one of the first instances of direct friction at sea since hostilities in Gaza ceased last month.

Gaza Fishermen’s Union spokesman Nizar Ayyash said that the incident occurred off the Gazan town of Beit Lahiya.

The Israeli military said that two vessels had been involved in the incident. 

It claimed that the vessels had been operating outside their permitted maritime limit and, after ignoring requests to move closer to shore, were boarded by naval personnel and seized.

As part of the ceasefire deal that halted last month’s fighting, Israel doubled the limit within which Gaza fishermen are permitted to operate from three to six miles.

Israel has also claimed a willingness to consider an additional doubling of the fishing area. 

But it still refuses Palestinians open access to the Mediterranean.