Israel is not so confident anymore – Tel Aviv quivers before Hamas’ determination

On Sunday, a fresh barrage of rockets fired from Gaza hit Israel's Sdot Negev, Nahal Oz and Alumim, while a mortar shell exploded in Eshkol.

Rocket alarm sirens have blared in several areas of Israel's Hof Ashkelon, and Eshkol and the Sha'ar HaNegev region were under Code Red missile alert.

This is while Israel’s Tourism Minister Uzi Landau has said that the military’s power is diminishing dramatically and that it has failed to break Hamas.

Tourism Minister Uzi Landau (Yisrael Beytenu) sharply criticized claimsthat the target of Operation Protective Edge has been achieved on Sunday, stating that the real threat is missile fire - and that destroying tunnels, in his words, only goes so far.

"The tunnels are a secondary objective, the main purpose was to take care of the missile threat," Landau dismissed, on a Channel 10 morning show with Orly Vilnai and Guy Meroz. 

Landau explained that if the operation ends now, Hamas's ability to fire rockets will not be affected substantially - and, in addition, the tunnels that will be destroyed will be restored. 
 
"As of this moment, the goal of the operation [. . .] has not been achieved," Landau fired.
"The goal should be reformulated to include long-term peace, which will not happen if they hit us soon with rockets again."

Landau added that, the next time around, Hamas will likely have "heavier missiles and larger ranges [of attack]" and possibly "chemical weapons" - if Israel does not finish the job "properly."

Separately, an Israeli soldier has been wounded by sniper fire in northern Gaza and transferred to Tel HaShomer.

The army says at least 64 soldiers have died since July 8. Palestinian resistance groups have disputed the number, saying the causalities are much higher.

The developments come as Israel's aerial and ground attacks on the besieged Gaza Strip continue relentlessly for the 27th consecutive day, causing more deaths and destruction. Nearly 50 people have been killed in Israel's attacks so far today.

A UN school sheltering displaced Palestinians in the southern town of Rafah was hit on Sunday, leaving 11 people dead and 30 injured.

Earlier today, airstrikes claimed the lives of at least 33 Palestinians, including several children. Ten of the victims who were members of the same family were killed in Rafah.

Thousands of people have staged demonstrations in different countries in protest against the ongoing Israeli military aggression against Palestinians in the blockaded Gaza Strip.