The ultimatum was made, according to Even, "in order not to give the Irgun commander time for lengthy considerations and to gain the advantage of surprise." Begin did not respond. Claiming he needed more time, he drove to Netanya to consult directly with government leaders. A standoff between the IDF and Irgun members at the beach ensued as a UN observation plane circled overhead and recorded the incident. Failing to reach an accord, Begin returned to the beach and conferred with his officers. As evening began, rifle fire broke out. Which side fired first is a matter of dispute. Hillel Kook, an eyewitness, claimed it was the Irgun, which fired shots towards the sea to demonstrate their will to resist. As the fighting began, Begin fled to the "Altalena" in a rowboat, under fire from the corvettes offshore, and Captain Fein maneuvered the "Altalena" to shield Begin, enabling him to board safely. On shore, the Irgun fighters were forced to surrender. The IDF suffered two dead and six wounded, while the Irgun suffered six dead and eighteen wounded. In order to prevent further bloodshed, the residents of Kfar Vitkin initiated negotiations between Yaakov Meridor (Begin's deputy) and Dan Even which ended in a general ceasefire and the transfer of the weapons on shore to the local IDF commander.