Projectile From Gaza Lands in Southern Israel Hours After Two Rockets Fail to Cross Border Fence

An unspecified projectile was launched toward Israel from the Gaza Strip early Saturday morning, Israel's military said, landing in an open area. The launch, however, did not trigger Israel's rocket siren system.

Earlier on Friday, two rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip at Israel, with both exploding inside the enclave.

According to the Israeli army, one rocket fell in an open area near the Gaza border fence and the second deeper inside the enclave. A rocket alert siren was not triggered in Israel's south.

Earlier on Friday, Israel Police used a drone to fire tear gas grenades at the Temple Mount to quell rioting following afternoon prayers which were attended by thousands of Palestinian worshipers.

The Temple Mount, located in Jerusalem's Old City, is the holiest site for Jews and the third-holiest site in Islam. It has long been a flash point for Israeli-Palestinian violence.

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According to the Palestinian Red Crescent, 57 Palestinians were wounded and treated at the scene, 26 of which were suffering from gas inhalation. Fourteen Palestinians were evacuated to hospitals — 12 in moderate condition and two in serious condition.

On Thursday, Israeli jets struck the Gaza Strip after militants fired rockets at an Israeli border city the day before and Jerusalem remained on edge after a far-right Israeli march. The Israeli army deemed the strikes the "most significant" attack on the enclave since the war in May of last year.

The rocket had fallen Wednesday in an open area in the southern Israeli city of Sderot and the shrapnel damaged a home. In response, Israel said it attacked an underground facility used to manufacture rockets.

Although Israel's intelligence establishment does not believe that recent escalations will spill over into war, the IDF's Southern Command has nevertheless been prepared for the possibility of an escalation.