Jake Sullivan, national security adviser, does not rule out placing restrictions on aid going to Israel.

In an interview on Sunday ‘ “Meet the Press,” national security adviser Jake Sullivan did not completely rule out the possibility that President Joe Biden will send aid to Israel under certain conditions. The Israel-Hamas conflict has been temporarily stopped for four days, and more hostages are expected to be freed.

Following weeks of Israeli attacks, health officials in Gaza reported that over 14,500 people had died and over 1.7 million had been displaced. More than 200 people were held captive in Gaza during the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, according to the Israel Defense Forces, which claimed 1,200 lives.

In response to criticism from certain Democrats who have shown sympathy for Palestinians, Biden stated in a recent press conference that the issue of providing Israel with conditional aid is a worthwhile thought.

“In that answer, President Biden acknowledged that idea, but he went on to say that his approach — President Biden’s approach, which was high-level private diplomacy — has actually generated results,” Sullivan said in response to Kristen Welker of NBC News’ question about whether the administration would support that.

Asking if Biden is “open to signing legislation that would provide aid to Israel that comes with conditions,” Welker put pressure on him to elaborate. It was not ruled out by Sullivan.

“He will persist in concentrating on what yields outcomes,” Sullivan declared. “And as you can see from the fact that hostages have been released over the last few days and as he stated quite clearly in the press conference, the strategy that he is using — direct presidential diplomacy behind closed doors with the Israelis and with our Arab partners — that’s what’s producing the kinds of results that we’re seeing right now.”

Progressive members of Congress have been putting increasing pressure on Biden, threatening to withhold support for Israel’s aid unless it comes with measures to lessen civilian casualties, such as an end to the Israeli Defense Forces’ bombardment of Gaza.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., stated in an opinion piece in the New York Times last week that while the United States has given Israel “substantial” support in the conflict, the “blank check approach must end.”

He stated, “The United States must make it clear that, even though we are friends with Israel, those friendships have conditions, and we cannot support behavior that goes against both international law and our own sense of decency.” The right of displaced Gazans to return to their homes, an end to Israeli occupation of Gaza, a halt to settler violence in the West Bank, a significant pause to bombing to allow for the delivery of massive humanitarian assistance, and a freeze on

On “Meet the Press,” House Intelligence Committee Chair Mike Turner, a Republican from Ohio, chastised Sullivan and the Biden administration for withholding information regarding the remaining American hostages, implying that they might not have been in possession of it.

“The exact number of hostages is unknown.” According to Jake Sullivan, neither the number nor the evidence of life is known. And you would have assumed that those are the kinds of details we would have conditioned this process through, given that they’re claiming credit — this is a Biden deal,” Turner stated.