The United States does not agree with the comments of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when the latter claimed that all Islamic militants, regardless of their structure or affiliation, share a common goal and thus, pose a similar threat, State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki said.

While both the ISIL and the Hamas have been identified as foreign terrorist groups, there is a difference with regard to the threat each group poses to the West, she said.

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The Hamas has region-specific goals, but ISIL presents a more globalized threat, she said, referring to the international coalition launching air strikes against the ISIL.

Psaki's comments were in response to remarks Netanyahu gave at the United Nations General Assembly on Monday.

Netanyahu said there was no distinction among militant groups ISIL, Hamas, al-Qaeda, al-Nursa or Hezbollah because they all fight for a similar cause and seek to impose their beliefs on others without regard for tolerance and freedom.

He claimed that Hamas' immediate concerns in Israel may have pushed the group's ultimate goal from the forefront but warned that it would eventually seek to declare a caliphate like the ISIL.

Likewise, both sought to enforce their fanatical beliefs on others, he noted.

That is why Hamas supporters cheered after the 9/11 attacks and why the group's commanders denounced Washington for the assassination of Osama bin Laden whom they regarded as a holy warrior, Netanyahu added.

The prime minister also criticized the UN Human Rights Council during his speech. He condemned the investigation it launched over allegations of Israel's war crimes in Gaza and called the group a "terrorist rights council."

He argued that the Hamas used civilians as shields.

The council's inaction on this premise effectively condones the use of human shields, he said.

Palestinian Liberation Organization member Hanan Ashrawi countered Netanyahu's allegations, saying the latter refused to acknowledge war crimes and massacres committed by his army.

Israel's leader should have owned up to the crimes instead of attacking the council, Ashrawi added.

According to the JTA, the UN Human Rights Council launched a probe on claims against Israel for committing war crimes in July. In the course of the investigation, a council commissioner had reportedly noted that Hamas attacks launched from civilian-inhabited areas was unacceptable.

TagsIsrael, Benjamin Netanyahu, UN General Assembly, Hamas, Gaza, Palestine, Islamist militants, war on terrorism, UN Human Rights Council, War Crimes, US