GAZA, July 4 (Xinhuanet) -- Israeli army forces opened intensive gunfire at the southern Gaza Strip town of Kahn Younis early Monday, witnesses and security sources said.

    They said the soldiers, who are stationed at the outskirts of the settlement of Neveh Dekalim west of Khan Younis, fired at the Palestinian residents' houses in the western refugee camp in the town.

    The Israel's shelling caused severe damage to some of the houses, the witnesses said, but no injuries were reported.

    The attack came shortly after Palestinian militants launched several homemade rockets at the Jewish settlements west of the town.

    In another development, an Israeli army force backed by several tanks and armored vehicles from the settlement of Netzarim, south of Gaza city, stormed the southern Mughraga neighborhood early on Monday.

    Israeli soldiers raided the house of Raafat Shahin, a Palestinian resident in the neighborhood, witnesses said, adding that all the family members, including women and children, were locked in one room. Enditem