Hamas began its hammering of the long-suffering Ashkelon shortly after 5 p.m. Immediately after the end of the Palestinian ultimatum, a barrage of rockets began to rain down on various parts of the city with residents running to shelters for protection.

The fierce wave after wave of Palestinian attacks lasted for about an hour, as the situation seemed to calm down around 6, with no official reports of casualties so far.

Η αεράμυνα του Ισραήλ κατάφερε να αναχαιτίσει ρουκέτες που εκτοξεύτηκαν από τη Γάζα στην Ασκελόν pic.twitter.com/rgiL2wf09Q

— kakajason (@kakajason50) October 10, 2023

Israel’s air defense, known as Iron Dome, managed to intercept rockets fired from Gaza into Ashkelon.

Πλάνα με αναχαιτισμένες ρουκέτες στον αέρα pic.twitter.com/dHCIhmwm1A

— kakajason (@kakajason50) October 10, 2023

In the videos below, people can be seen trying to find a safe place to take cover as a rocket reportedly hit near the hospital, with air raid sirens sounding about every 10 minutes.

See map of Hamas bombing locations

⚡️Right on time, a large rocket barrage towards Ashkelon pic.twitter.com/f0ibR6K8Ni

— War Monitor (@WarMonitors) October 10, 2023

A new rocket from Gaza “struck” again near the Askelon hospital, while Haaretz reports that a hotel near the city’s beach was hit.

Το Protothema στην Ασκελόν, 45 λεπτά πριν λήξει το τελεσίγραφο της Χαμάς για εκκένωση της πόλης. pic.twitter.com/DhVjoFz3mh

— kakajason (@kakajason50) October 10, 2023

Earlier, Hamas had described the city of Ashkelon as occupied, noting, “We are responding to the enemy’s crime of displacing our people and forcing them to leave their homes in various areas of the Gaza Strip. We give the residents of the occupied city of Ashkelon a deadline to leave before 5 pm today,” the Al Qassam Brigades statement on social media read.

?YENİ — Filistinli gruplar, Gazze’den Ashkelon’a roket atışları yapıyor. pic.twitter.com/M94yVJA3uF

— Bedrettin (@bedbolukbasi) October 10, 2023

Hamas sent a message emphasizing the Israeli prisoners it is holding, a matter that prolongs the war thriller. It is noted that among the hostages are not only military personnel but also children.

“We will not negotiate for the prisoners until the war is over,” asserted Hamas’ political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh.

“This file will not be opened before the end of the battle. And this will only happen at a specific price,” he added.

Israel estimates that Hamas is holding between 100 and 150 people hostage.