Israeli armed forces have begun evacuating Palestinian civilians from southern Gaza's Rafah ahead of a threatened assault on the city, Israeli broadcaster GLZ radio reported on Monday.

However, there was no immediate confirmation from the military of the report, which said evacuations were focused on a few peripheral districts of Rafah and the evacuees would be directed to tent cities in nearby Khan Younis and Al Muwassi.

In what appeared to be the beginning of a civilian evacuation ahead of a ground assault, however, the Israeli military called on Palestinians in eastern parts of Rafah to move to a nearby "humanitarian area."

In a statement, the military said posters, text messages, phone calls and media announcements would be used to "encourage...the gradual movement of civilians in the specified areas."

(With input from agencies)