GAZA, Aug. 8 (Xinhuanet) -- Israeli army tanks fired four tank shells at an area west of the town of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip on Monday, Palestinian security sources and witnesses reported.

    The shells fired by the tanks, stationed at the outskirts of the Jewish settlement of Naveh Dekalim, hit a nearby graveyard at the neighborhood of al-Namsawi west of Khan Younis, said the source sand the witnesses, adding that huge explosions were heard in the area.

    No injuries had been reported, but the tank shells caused severe damage to the Palestinian graves and some nearby houses, they said.

    It is a main graveyard in the area of Khan Younis, witnesses said, adding that most of the people buried there are Palestinians who were killed by Israeli soldiers during the five years of Intifada (uprising).

    The shelling came shortly after Palestinian militants tried to launch homemade mortar shells at the settlements west of KhanYounis, according to the security sources.

    Israel is intending to evacuate all 21 settlements in the Gaza Strip and four in the northern West Bank beginning on Aug. 17 as part of its unilateral plan to disengage with the Palestinians.Enditem