Israel decided to ban Gazans from performing Friday prayers in Al Aqsa Mosque over alleged security precautions after a rocket was fired late Tuesday from the northern Gaza Strip into Ashkelon city in southern Israel.

Yoav Mordechai, the coordinator for the Israeli government activities in the territories, said the rocket fell so close to Beit Hanoun or Erez crossing through which 500 male and female worshipers were planned to reach al-Aqsa Mosque.

He said Israel will not allow worshipers to cross the unsafe terminal.

Mordechai said "I am not saying that Hamas fired the rocket, but it is the authority in charge of the Gaza Strip."

Hours after firing the rocket, Israel launched an airstrike targeting a rocket launcher in Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip, he added.