23:59: The Live Blog for Day 49 has been started and can be see HERE.

23:34: Red alerts are ringing again in Ashkelon and surrounding areas.

23:33: One rocket has just been intercepted over Ashkelon.

23:31: red alerts going off in Carmia, Ashkelon, Zikim and surrounding areas.

22:57: Red alerts are ringing now in Ahsdod, Ashkelon and surrounding areas..

21:15: The iron Dome has successfully intercepted two rockets over the Jerusalem / Beit Shemesh area a few minutes ago.

21:12: The IDF says that that the Air Force had struck multiple terror targets in Northern Gaza in the last hour or so. No word on casualties or injuries.

21:10: Two explosions are being reported over the Jerusalem area indicating possible Iron Dome interceptions. The IDF is scanning the area for confirmations. No injuries or damage reported.

21:05: Sirens are now ringing in Beit Shemesh and areas surrounding Yerushalayim.

21:03: Gaza media outlets report that the IDF has just destroyed 10 homes in a strike against terror targets in Khan Younis.

20:18: Red alerts are now ringing in Sdot Negev, and the Shaar Hanegev Regional Council areas.

20:05: At least two rockets were intercepted by the Iron Dome over Ashkelon a few moments ago.

20:02: Red alerts now ringing in Ashkelon.

19:57: Over 100 rockets have been fired from Gaza since Sunday morning.

19:51: Sderot Mayor Alon Davidi plans to do his utmost to open schools in the city. He explains all schools are fortified as the city has been under rocket attack for 14 years.

19:48: Sirens in Nachal Ohz and Alumim.

19:42: Most of the 40,000 residents living in Gaza border communities have left their homes due to the constant rocket fire.

19:35: A home in Ashkelon was hit in the last rocket attack. No injuries are being reported. A number of rockets were intercepted by the Iron Dome.
• Sirens sounding once again in a number of Gaza border communities and communities in Ashkelon District 238.

19:29: Repeated sirens sounding in the Ashdod and Ashkelon districts.

19:27: Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon explained to Gaza border community residents he understands families wish to leave due to persistent rocket fire. He explained to residents the ministry and its affiliated emergency authority would assist placing families in shelters in areas far from rocket threats.
• Sirens sounding throughout the Ashdod and Ashkelon districts.

19:26: Injured in the rocket attack at Erez Crossing today were taxi drivers who were summoned to transport Gazans requiring medical care to hospitals in Israel.

19:20: Sirens sounding in Nachal Ohz and Alumim.

19:03: Sirens in areas of the Negev district, including Tlalim, Maale Shavit, Azuz, Revivim, Retamim, Nitzana, Kfar Noar, Nitzanei Sinai. Sirens also in Tzeilim in the Ashkelon district.

18:56: Sirens sounding in Nachal Ohz and Alumim.

18:38: Sirens sounding in Nachal Ohz and Alumim.

18:28: Sirens sounding in the Ashkelon Industrial area, Zikim and Karmiya.

18:15: Two rockets explode in an open area outside an Eshkol Council community.

18:09: Sirens sounding in Kissufim once again. Multiple sirens.

18:00: Sirens sounding in Kissufim.

17:53: There are reports of damage to cars and homes in Sderot from the last rounds of rocket fire.

17:39: Sirens in Kfar Maimon, Shuva, Shukda, and Toshia.

17:37: Sirens now ringing in the Sdot Negev area.

17:29: Red alerts are ringing in the Shaar Hanegev Regional Council and surrounding areas.

17:19: The Iron Dome intercepted a rocket over Sderot.

17:18: Second siren in Sderot and the Shar HaNegev Council.

17:13: Sirens sounding in the Shar HaNegev Council and Sderot.

17:02: Four rockets landed in an open area in the Shar HaNegev Regional Council earlier.

17:00: Sirens sounding in Kibbutz Be’eri.

16:49: Gaza sources report a woman and her three children were killed in an IAF attack in northeastern Gaza.

16:48: Sirens in Kibbutz Kfar Aza and Kibbutz Saad.

16:42: Sirens sounding in Nachal Ohz, Alumim, Zameret, Chavat Zeraim, Kfar Maimon, Shuva and Toshia.

16:40: At least 85 rockets fired from Gaza today so far, 75 landed in Israeli territory.

16:27: The IAF eliminated Muhmad el-Rol, who was in charge of transferring funds to the organization. Significant sums in foreign currencies were found at the scene.
• Iranian sources are reporting an Israeli spy drone was shot down near an Iranian nuclear facility. There is no confirmation from any Israeli source.

16:12: Sirens in Nachal Ohz, Alumim, Kfar Maimon and other communities in the Shar and S’dot HaNegev Regional Councils.

16:06: Sirens sounding in Gaza Communities District 220 (Avim, Gavim, Sapir College, Nir Am, Sapirim Industrial Zone, Sderot, and the Shar HaNegev Industrial area).

15:59: Sirens in Nirim and Ein HaShloshah.

15:50: Sirens in the Ashkelon Industrial area as well as in Ashkelon and Be’er Ganim.

15:47: Sirens in Nachal Ohz and Alumim.

15:36: Sirens in Nachal Ohz and Alumim.

15:20: Sirens in Nachal Ohz and Alumim.

15:11: Two rockets exploded in the Ashdod district. No injuries. No sirens sounded.

15:10: Sirens sounding in Merkaz Shapira, Masuot Yitzchak, Ein Tzurim, Shapir (Ashdod district 276), Emunim, Beit Ezra, Givati, Ezer, Ezrakim, S’dei Uziyahu, Shtulim (Ashdod 272), Zikim, Karmiya (Gaza Border 217), Yinon, Kfar HaRif, Kfar Menachem, Telmei Yechiel, Re’em Industrial Zone Avigdor, Orot Achva, El Azi, Be’er Tuvia, Kfar Achim, Kfar Warburg, Arugot, Kiryat Malachi, and Timorim (Ashdod 275).

15:06: Sirens sounding in Zikim and Karmiya.

14:53: Three rockets landed in open areas in the Eshkol Regional Council resulting in a fire in that area. B’chasdei Hashem there are no reports of fatalities or injuries.

14:43: Following the attack with injuries, the IDF closed the Erez Crossing to Gaza.

14:36: Sirens in Yad Mordechai, Netiv HaAsarah, Ohr HaNer and Erez.

14:34: Sirens in Avim, Gavim, Sapir College, Nir Am, the Sapirim Industrial Part, Sderot, Kerem Shalom and the Shar HaNegev Industrial area.

14:25: Sirens in Nachal Ohz, Alumim, N’vei Shlumit, and Bnei Netzarim.

14:03: Sirens sounding in the Ashkelon district and Gaza border communities.

13:38: Sirens sounding in Eshel HaNasi, Gilat, Tifrach and other communities in the Beersheva 298 district.

13:31: No siren sounded earlier when the rocket exploded in the Tel Aviv area, around noon time. 

13:29: Injuries from the rocket fire occurred near the Erez Crossing.

• Gaza reports two terrorists killed and two in critical condition from an IAF attack against a vehicle.

13:38: Sirens in Yad Mordechai, Netiv HaAsarah, Ohr HaNer, and Erez.

13:27: Five people have been wounded by mortar rocket fire in the Shar HaNegev Regional Council, with one listed in serious condition.

13:23: Sirens in Yad Mordechai and Netiv HaAsarah.

13:10: Three rockets landed in the Eshkol and S’dot Negev Councils. No injuries or fatalities B”H.

13:05: Another siren in the Ashkelon Coast district.

13:04: A rocket was intercepted by the Iron Dome over the Bnei Shimon Regional Council.

12:56: sirens sounding in the Beersheva, Ashkelon, and Gaza border communities districts at this time.

13:00PM IL: Sunday morning has not brought a hiatus in rocket fire, rather quite the contrary. For the Gaza border communities, those communities in the S’dot Negev, Shar HaNegev and Eshkol Regional Councils, life has come to a halt as mortar rocket fire is constant. Rocket fire continues from the Gaza border up through Ashkelon, with the border communities being hit the hardest. Rockets were also directed at Beersheva and the Ashkelon industrial area and towards Tel Aviv, with the latter occurring close to noon. A rocket exploded in Tel Aviv. Hamas announced it was aiming for Ben-Gurion International Airport.

In their opening remarks at the weekly cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon did not veer from the Operation Protective Edge mantra, explaining Hamas has sustained a near fatal blow and the IDF will continue to strike Gaza targets from the air. No mention was made of a ground forces operation. He added no terrorist has immunity, stating whether schools open or not, the operation is continuing. Education Minister Rabbi Shai Piron has announced the public school system will open on schedule.

07:24: At least 11 mortar rockets slammed into the Gaza border communities’ areas resulting in damage to power lines and interruptions in electric service to some areas.

Gaza reports the IAF targeted a vehicle in Gaza killing a PFLP commander a short time ago.

07:00 IL: The Red Alert sirens heard throughout Shabbos in the Eshkol, S’dot Negev and Shar HaNegev Regional Councils continued on motzei Shabbos, throughout the night and during the predawn hours on Sunday morning. B’chasdei Hashem there are no reports of fatalities.

Rockets late motzei Shabbos also landed in a part and near a building in Beersheva. A number of residents were treated for hysteria.

Sirens also sounded in the Galil on motzei Shabbos, B’chasdei Hashem without fatalities or injuries. A home in the Western Galil was damaged. No one was at home at the time.  EMS personnel treated about 20 residents of the community, most for hysteria. During the early morning hours of Sunday, at about 01:25, the first siren was heard in the Golan Heights. Five rockets were fired in three attacks, landing in the Golan Heights, damaging an electric line. The attack resulted in power outages to area communities. Israel blames Syria for that attack. The IDF adds that at least one rocket was fired into Israel from Lebanon, not Syria.

The IDF during the night continued to attack terrorist targets in areas of Gaza.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)