The Palestinian Authority announced today it had launched an internal investigation into the seizure of a ship the Israeli army said was smuggling arms, and vowed to punish anyone involved.
Israel has accused the Palestinian leader Mr Yasser Arafat of being behind the alleged smuggling operation.
Palestinian officials have denied any knowledge of the ship and said it was Israeli propaganda, designed to undermine a US-led peace mission.
Israeli officials said commandos seized the ship in the Red Sea and found 50 tonnes of weapons on board destined for the Palestinian-ruled Gaza Strip.