Smoke rises after an Israeli strike in southern Gaza Strip seen from near the Shalom Kerem crossing, on May 6, 2024. Israeli media reported on Monday that Israel's war cabinet has approved the launch of a ground offensive on Rafah that would take place after the civil population is evacuated. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)

JERUSALEM, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Israel's war cabinet has approved the launch of a ground offensive on Rafah that would take place after the civil population is evacuated, Israeli media reported on Monday.

The operation is expected to begin "within days," Israel's Ynet site reported.

Two incidents preceded the decision -- Hamas' insistence on ending the conflict and the deadly rocket attack on the Kerem Shalom crossing in which four soldiers were killed, said the Ynet.

Earlier on Monday, the army dropped leaflets, calling civilians in Rafah to evacuate.

In the meanwhile, The Israeli army carried out on Monday airstrikes on areas in eastern Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, said Palestinian security sources and eyewitnesses.

Sources and eyewitnesses told Xinhua that Israeli airstrikes created fire belts in the vicinity of Gaza Airport and on the outskirts of the Al-Salam neighborhood, east of Rafah. 

Smoke rises after an Israeli strike in southern Gaza Strip seen from near the Shalom Kerem crossing, on May 6, 2024. Israeli media reported on Monday that Israel's war cabinet has approved the launch of a ground offensive on Rafah that would take place after the civil population is evacuated. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)

An Israeli tank is seen near the Shalom Kerem crossing in southern Israel bordering the Gaza Strip, on May 6, 2024. Israeli media reported on Monday that Israel's war cabinet has approved the launch of a ground offensive on Rafah that would take place after the civil population is evacuated. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)

Israeli tanks are seen near the Shalom Kerem crossing in southern Israel bordering the Gaza Strip, on May 6, 2024. Israeli media reported on Monday that Israel's war cabinet has approved the launch of a ground offensive on Rafah that would take place after the civil population is evacuated. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)

Israeli tanks are seen near the Shalom Kerem crossing in southern Israel bordering the Gaza Strip, on May 6, 2024. Israeli media reported on Monday that Israel's war cabinet has approved the launch of a ground offensive on Rafah that would take place after the civil population is evacuated. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)

An Israeli tank is seen near the Shalom Kerem crossing in southern Israel bordering the Gaza Strip, on May 6, 2024. Israeli media reported on Monday that Israel's war cabinet has approved the launch of a ground offensive on Rafah that would take place after the civil population is evacuated. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)

An Israeli tank is seen near the Shalom Kerem crossing in southern Israel bordering the Gaza Strip, on May 6, 2024. Israeli media reported on Monday that Israel's war cabinet has approved the launch of a ground offensive on Rafah that would take place after the civil population is evacuated. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)

An Israeli tank is seen near the Shalom Kerem crossing in southern Israel bordering the Gaza Strip, on May 6, 2024. Israeli media reported on Monday that Israel's war cabinet has approved the launch of a ground offensive on Rafah that would take place after the civil population is evacuated. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)

An Israeli tank is seen near the Shalom Kerem crossing in southern Israel bordering the Gaza Strip, on May 6, 2024. Israeli media reported on Monday that Israel's war cabinet has approved the launch of a ground offensive on Rafah that would take place after the civil population is evacuated. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)

An Israeli tank is seen near the Shalom Kerem crossing in southern Israel bordering the Gaza Strip, on May 6, 2024. Israeli media reported on Monday that Israel's war cabinet has approved the launch of a ground offensive on Rafah that would take place after the civil population is evacuated. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)