(NewsNation) -After expressed his harshest criticism of Israel to datePresident Joe Biden has issued a memo outlining the standards countries must meet if they want to receive weapons from the United States.

NewsNation learned from a senior Biden administration official that the president released a “national security memorandum” on Thursday after discussions with members of Congress.

While the memo does not set new standards for those receiving U.S. weapons, it does require the Biden administration for the first time to submit an annual report to Congress on whether countries are meeting the requirements outlined.

The senior administration official emphasized that this memo was not issued because he believes countries are violating these standards.

“If we had done this, you would have heard about it a long time ago – and seen the consequences,” the official said. Instead, this is “an opportunity to provide transparency to the American public about the standards” and how “we receive assurances that they will be met.”

This comes amid criticism from some Democratic lawmakers about the way Israel uses weapons sent by the United States.

Biden himself strongly admonished Israel on Thursday, as NewsNation partner The Hill reported.

“As you know, I believe the reaction in Gaza was excessive.” Biden said in a statement from the White House. “I have been very committed to bringing humanitarian aid to Gaza… There are a lot of innocent people who are starving, a lot of innocent people who are in trouble and dying. And it has to stop.”

In recent months, Biden has also pushed Israel to more specifically target its airstrikes on the Gaza Strip.

At least 27,840 Palestinians have died in the Israeli military offensive and a quarter of Gaza’s residents are starving, according to the Associated Press.

Israel declared war after Hamas’ attack on the country on October 7, in which militants killed 1,200 people and kidnapped about 250. More than 130 are still held by Hamas, but about 30 are presumed dead.

About half of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have been displaced, with many living in makeshift tent camps or overcrowded United Nations shelters.

Federal government officials are making a concerted effort to reach a temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas to allow for the release of hostages and more humanitarian aid to Gaza.

A Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that about half of U.S. adults also say Israel has gone too far. While the poll still showed broad support for Israel, 50% of respondents now believe the Israeli military offensive goes beyond what it should have been, compared to 40% in November.

On Thursday, senators began voting on a $95 billion foreign aid package This includes $14 billion for Israel.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.