A defence official said Israel's Defence Ministry had bought 40,000 tents, each with the capacity for 10 to 12 people, to house Palestinians relocated from Rafah in advance of an assault
"These people have been taken under the wing of the civil authorities," he said.
Earlier Malian commandos stormed the luxury hotel after Islamist gunmen took 170 people including many foreigners hostage in the capital of the former French colony, which has been battling rebels allied to al Qaeda for several years.
He added the operation was undertaken "uniquely" by Malian forces.
Al-Mourabitoun, an African jihadist group affiliated with al Qaeda, claimed responsibility for the attack.