Israel fires on suspected smugglers

JERUSALEM, March 11 (UPI) -- Israel said its navy Sunday fired on Palestinian boats suspected of smuggling weapons.

YNet News reported navy personnel spotted three suspicious Palestinian boats on the Gaza coast sailing toward Egypt. People on board loaded goods from an Egyptian boats, YNet reported.

The boats were fired on after ignoring orders to stop and warning shots, officials said.

The boats were damaged but were able to reach the Gaza shore, where a large crowd met them, YNet reported.

"These were not innocent fishermen, but smugglers," the Israeli Defense Force said."

It wasn't clear whether there were smuggled weapons on the boats, YNet said.