A Japanese Self-Defense Force aircraft has evacuated 46 people from Israel as the situation in the region is becoming increasingly tense.

The plane is expected to arrive at Tokyo's Haneda Airport as early as Friday.

This is the second time the SDF has undertaken this kind of operation since the start of hostilities between Israeli forces and Hamas.

Earlier this week, the Japanese government asked Japanese and other nationals in Israel if they wished to leave the country.

The survey comes as the region becomes increasingly strained, and as flight schedules of direct commercial airlines to Japan are disrupted.

Officials from Japan's defense and foreign ministries say 20 Japanese nationals, 15 South Koreans, four Vietnamese nationals, and one person from Taiwan said they wished to leave Israel.

The 46 on board the SDF aircraft also include their six family members that are foreign-registered.

The foreign ministry says about 800 Japanese citizens remain in Israel and Palestinian territories.

The defense ministry has two other SDF transport aircraft on standby in Jordan for future operations.