Japan is considering using Self-Defense Force aircraft to bring home its citizens from Israel, as tensions rise there ahead of a possible ground offensive by Israeli forces on the Gaza Strip.

The government is asking Japanese nationals in Israel via email if they wish to leave the country.

If the survey finds that a certain number of people hope to leave, the government is reportedly considering bringing them back to Japan as early as this week.

Government sources say a plan under consideration would transport the people from Israel via neighboring Jordan to Tokyo's Haneda Airport for free.

Japan's Defense Ministry revealed on Tuesday that two SDF planes had arrived in Jordan, instead of their initial destination of Djibouti in eastern Africa.

The Foreign Ministry says about 900 Japanese nationals are in Israel and the Palestinian territories as of Tuesday.

Fifty-one Japanese citizens have already evacuated from Israel on a South Korean military plane and eight left onboard a chartered plane arranged by the Japanese government.