Politico reported Sunday that Democrats in the House and Senate are discussing setting  conditions for how future military aid would be provided to Israel, according to two party members, one in each chamber.

According to the newspaper, the discussion between major Democrats is in its early stages, and it is not clear whether the talks will develop into legislative action codifying this in Congress. But Senate Democrats said White House officials are aware of the discussions and have been warned that the administration's allies may publicly push for conditions (on weapons exported to Israel) in the near future.

The senator who spoke to the newspaper added that Capitol Hill discussions about restricting humanitarian aid entering Gaza prompted Democrats to hold similar discussions about imposing conditions on military aid to Israel. “This is a conversation I've remarkably never heard before — until now,” the lawmaker said, while the House member, who like others requested anonymity for details of sensitive discussions, said Democrats were "moving toward" pushing for those conditions on future support. .

Senator Bernie Sanders (independent from Vermont) hosted a lunch on Wednesday for Senate Democrats on the war between Israel and Hamas, four people familiar with the gathering said. Shibli Telhami (of Palestinian origins), a professor of political science at the University of Maryland, spoke to lawmakers about these issues and confirmed that the meeting would be held. Three other people said Telhami was a guest alongside Tom Friedman of The New York Times and former Middle East peace negotiator Dennis Ross, neither of whom immediately responded to requests for comment.

“The conditions for military aid have been raised” by some senators, one person said.

After Politico's initial report, Sanders issued a statement calling for restricting US aid to Israel, including by ending what he called "indiscriminate bombing" to allow "a significant pause in military operations" so humanitarian aid can enter Gaza; allowing displaced Gazans to return to their homes; no long-term Israeli occupation or blockade of Gaza; and putting an end to settler violence and expansion in the West Bank; “Commitment to broad peace talks for a two-state solution.”

The lawmakers' talks come as fighting intensifies in Gaza and the civilian death toll rises — an estimated 12,000 dead, according to Gaza health authorities — raising questions among Israel's traditional allies about red lines for aid.

Opinion polls indicate an unchecked erosion of Democratic support for the ongoing Israeli occupation army violations in recent weeks, overriding the doubts and protests that progressives in the Democratic Party have already shown about the US administration's excessive support for Israel. If more moderate Democrats join calls for conditions on aid to Israel, it could complicate President Joe Biden's policy of standing firmly by Israel as it retaliates against Hamas.

Last week, humanitarian organizations said their offices were bombed and their employees were killed as a result of the clashes. Medical facilities are also under siege and suffering from a shortage of life-saving medical supplies.

Earlier this month, in a call to send more humanitarian aid to Gaza, 13 Democratic senators said in a joint statement: “We have been closely monitoring the war in Gaza and believe more must be done to protect civilian lives... The failure to “Provide adequate protection” to non-combat civilians risks a significant escalation of the conflict in the region and seriously harms the prospects for peaceful coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians.

If the talks turn into legislative action, which would increase enormous pressure on the White House, it could force Biden to moderate his excessive support for Israel in its continued bombing of civilians in the Gaza Strip, which would satisfy progressives in Congress who want the U.S. to demand a ceasefire.

According to the newspaper, the Pentagon refused to comment, and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Democrats have not decided how or even whether they will push to impose conditions on military aid to Israel. But both lawmakers said that the current talks revolve around using existing powers such as activating the Leahy Act, which imposes a condition on the surrender of American weapons according to the behavior of the countries that receive these weapons and their commitment not to use them against civilians, and also prohibits sending money to countries where there is reliable information about human rights violations. 

Israel receives about $3.8 billion annually from the United States in exchange for its military and missile defense systems. The Republican-led House of Representatives earlier this month passed a $14.3 billion aid bill that Biden threatened to veto because it did not include funding for Ukraine, among other priorities.