Japan will send a peace envoy to the Middle East as part of its effort to de-escalate the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko told reporters on Sunday that Special Envoy for the Middle East Peace Uemura Tsukasa will be dispatched to the region.

She said the Japanese government will continue to coordinate with the international community and engage relevant parties toward the goal of bringing the situation under control as soon as possible.

She also said over 1,000 Japanese nationals were staying in Israel as of Saturday, and there have been no reports of any of them being harmed so far.

But Kamikawa added that the situation is fluid. She called on Japanese citizens who hope to leave the country to do so as early as possible while commercial flights are still in operation.

She also said a small number of Japanese nationals are staying in the conflict-ravaged Gaza Strip for various reasons. She said the government has been in close contact with these people and is doing its utmost to secure their safety.

The minister said the situation in and around Gaza is becoming even more tense by the minute, with a large number of casualties. She said the government is closely watching the situation with a sense of grave concern.