Israeli troops shot and wounded two Palestinians on Saturday near the Erez crossing into the Gaza Strip, Palestinian medics said.
The men were hit as they tried to recover construction material near the security barrier that separates Israel from the Hamas-ruled coastal enclave, the medics said.
Three days ago a mortar shell fired from northern Gaza landed in an open area near the Israel-Gaza border fence. The shell, which was found near a kibbutz, caused no injury or damage.
The escalation of violence on Israel's southern front began more than a week ago, when two IDF soldiers were injured from a mortar fired by Palestinians.
The Salah al-Din Brigades, the armed wing of the Popular Resistance Committees, claimed responsibility for the attack.

