U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) got booed off the stage during a Christian conference in Washington on Wednesday for conveying his support for Israel.

Cruz, a potential candidate for the 2016 presidential race, was appointed as a keynote speaker during a gathering of the new organization In Defense of Christians. The conference aimed to raise awareness of the persecution that Christian minorities experience worldwide, Newsweek explained.

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The event became controversial on Wednesday when the Washington Free Beacon revealed that some of the speakers were outspoken Christian supporters from the Assad administration and religious leaders linked with Hezbollah, a terrorist organization supported by Iran.

One of the speakers, Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Bechara Rai, said Israel is an "enemy state" occupying land owned by Lebanon and defended Hezbollah's actions against the Jewish country, the conservative paper reported.

In his speech during the Christian gathering, Cruz expressed his support for Christians and Jews and clarified that he did not support Hezbollah and Syrian leader Bashar Assad.

The Texas senator called the action of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), Al-Qaeda, Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, and Syria a "vicious genocidal campaign" against religious minorities in the Arab region.

"Christians have no greater ally than Israel," Cruz said. "Those who hate Israel hate America."

Cruz's statement, however, prompted boos from the crowd. But he continued to speak in defense of the Christian belief even as some people asked him to walk away.

The presidential hopeful ended his statement by saying he will not support those who are against Israel and the Jewish people before he exited the stage.

Touric Baaklini, the president of In Defense of Christians, blamed "politically motivated" attendees for the hubbub and said they were not welcome in future events, Politico reported.

Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Michigan), and Congressmen Brad Sherman (D-California) and Darrel Issa (R-California) were also set to attend the three-day gathering of the Christian organization, based on information posted on the group's website.

TagsTed Cruz, Israel, Jews, ISIL, In Defense of Christians