Israeli sources said on Sunday that a hail of rockets landed in Ashkelon, Be'er Sheva, Ashdod and Bani Shamoon.

The projectiles reportedly caused fire in Ashdod upon impact.

Latest reports say air raid sirens went off in several cities.

Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has said it will step up its attacks on Israel, using new and more powerful missiles.

The developments come as Israel’s US-funded Iron Dome missile system has once again proved vulnerable after failing to intercept retaliatory rockets fired by Palestinians into the occupied territories. The failure of the highly-publicized missile system has sparked panic among Israelis.

Meanwhile, Israeli warplanes have bombed some 1,300 targets in the Gaza Strip, killing at least 165 Palestinians since July 8. According to a UN report, nearly 80 percent of the victims have been civilians.

The world’s top independent charity for children has also warned that the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip further traumatizes young people in the besieged Palestinian enclave.

The international non-governmental organization, Save the Children, further noted that children are likely to face sleeping disorders and other behavioral issues.

People in Iran, the United States, Jordan, Tunisia, Turkey, France, Indonesia, Britain and several other countries have taken to the streets, calling for a halt to the Israeli attacks.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that the Tel Aviv regime will not stop its attacks on the Gaza Strip and that “no international pressure will prevent us” from attacking the besieged territory.

MB/MB