Ashqelon had been given until 5pm to evacuate by Hamas before the rockets would come in.

As the deadline passed, we approached from the north to the angry roar of missiles outgoing.  Israel’s Iron Dome defences in action.

Their contrails seared the afternoon sky as they climbed to meet the incoming rockets from Gaza.

Puffs of smoke high above us as the duelling projectiles collided.

Hamas hurled a lot at Ashqelon this evening.  Most rockets did not get through.  A few did, coming down on residential parts of the city.

As reporters arrived at the scene of one impact, the sirens went off again, first responders and onlookers running for cover.  The mood is nervous and jittery.

What is clear is Hamas has not succeeded in emptying the city.  People were out instead in crowds watching the aftermath of this attack. 

Israelis say several were injured in Ashqelon, some serious, where we were filming hurt after windows were blown in flats overlooking the blast.

Ashqelon is under constant threat of bombardment.  Minutes after the soldiers drove away, the reporters had to pull over as more sirens sounded so they ran to take cover.

South of the city, there were fires burning in scrubland lit up by fallen rockets.  We set up to report live.  But were repeatedly forced to take cover as the roar of rockets returned. 

Patriot missiles soared to the sky from a battery nearby. 

Again rockets and missiles converged in fiery explosion lighting the night sky.

Life here is now under constant threat from the air.  Imagine living like that and yet for millions of Israelis it is for now the new norm as this conflict continues to escalate.