A rocket fired from the Gaza Strip slammed into an army base in southern Israel today, slightly wounding five soldiers, the Israeli army said.
The casualties came amid growing cross-border violence following Israel's withdrawal from the territory in September after 38 years of occupation.
Israeli forces have repeatedly fired artillery and missiles to target rocket launching sites and militants in the Gaza Strip, but have failed to stop the cross-border fire.
Two other rockets launched at Israel today caused no damage or casualties. Israeli troops responded with artillery shells.
Israel has threatened to further step up its military action in Gaza to halt the rocket fire, but has stopped short of saying it would send troops back into Gaza. Israeli troops killed a Palestinian militant commander and two other gunmen in the West Bank city of Nablus today.