Five rockets exploded in southern Israel Friday, including one shot down by the Iron Dome missile defense system. No damage was reported.

The barrage came hours after a Qassam rocket landed in an open area in Hof Ashkelon on Friday afternoon, following IAF strikes in Gaza overnight Thursday.

Earlier Friday morning, a rocket also fell in the Negev area of southern Israel. There were no reports of damage, according to an Army Radio report.

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Violence across the Israeli-Gaza border escalated on Thursday with IAF air strikes killing at least two people and Palestinian militants firing rockets deep into southern Israel on Friday. Since the IAF air strikes Thursday, seven rockets were fired into Israel from the Gaza Strip. All of them landed in open areas, and no damage or wounded were reported.

Early on Friday, Palestinian medical officials said an Israeli air strike hit a Hamas training camp in Gaza City, sending shrapnel flying into nearby houses, killing one civilian and wounding 13 others, mostly women and children. The Israeli military confirmed the air strike early Friday had been carried out.

For more, go to Haaretz.com

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