Turner says ‘conditional aid’ to Israel ‘accurately’ reflects US policy

House Intelligence Committee Chair Mike Turner (R-Ohio) said conditioning U.S. aid for Israel on certain demands is a policy that would be consistent with U.S. policy with allied countries.

In an interview on NBC News’s “Meet the Press,” Turner said he thinks the White House has been clear that Israel should “lessen” the Palestinian death toll among civilians and that he thinks Israel has taken steps to meet those concerns.

“I think the White House has been clear, and I think U.S. policy has been clear of, you know, lessening the Palestinian casualties that are not Hamas. And I think certainly Israel has made it clear in the areas in which there’s going to be conflict and trying to get people to leave those areas to lessen those casualties,” Turner said when asked whether he would support growing calls for U.S. aid to be conditioned on a plan to limit civilian deaths.

NBC News’s Kristen Welker pressed again on whether he would vote for “conditional aid” to Israel if it came up for a vote.

“Well, I wouldn’t propose it, but I think it does accurately reflect U.S. policy,” Turner responded.

Turner’s remarks come amid growing calls for a cease-fire and for conditions on U.S. aid to Israel amid concerns about the high civilian death toll in Gaza.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF)claimed Hamas, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization, frequently uses civilians as human shields as part of its propaganda against Israel. Israel and U.S. intelligence, according to officials, have provided evidence backing up this claim in numerous instances.

Since Hamas launched its surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7, the IDF airstrikes and its ground offensive have resulted in more than 12,000 Palestinian casualties, according to estimates by the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry. Israel has sought to destroy Hamas and secure the release of all hostages taken on Oct. 7.