Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu revealed on Tuesday that Israel has offered medical assistance to victims of the earthquake in Iraq and Iran earlier this week.
Speaking via video conference at the closing session of the Jewish Federations of North America’s General Assembly in Los Angeles, Netanyahu said Israel's quarrel is with the regimes, “but our humanity is greater than their hatred.”
"We have no quarrel with the people in Iran but rather with the regime in Iran, which holds its citizens hostage and threatens to destroy Israel," the prime minister added.
Following Netanyahu's remarks, an official in the Prime Minister's Office said, "As part of an ongoing strategy, Prime Minister Netanyahu communicates directly with the Iranian people and presents the difference between the Iranian public and the regime in Iran.”
The official added, "Israel turned to the Red Cross with the intention of providing civilian humanitarian aid and was immediately refused, a fact which presents the true face of the Iranian regime.”
More than 400 people were killed and close to 8,000 were injured in Sunday's 7.3-magnitude earthquake, which was also felt in Israel.
Netanyahu also criticized the Iran nuclear deal in his remarks, saying that it does not prevent Iran from producing a nuclear weapon.
"I want to thank President Trump for his stand on this issue, and ambassador Haley for her stand at the UN," he added.
Another issue which Netanyahu addressed is the controversy over the Western Wall, saying he remains committed to a non-Orthodox prayer space at the compound.
"I remain committed to move forward. I believe all Jews should have access to pray at the Kotel. I hope you will see the improved prayer space before the next GA [in Tel Aviv],” he said.