Yasser Ali, Egypt's presidential spokesman has stated in a press conference that President Morsi's comments regarding Jews were taken out of context.

Ali's comments on Thursday were in reference to a 2010 television interview showing Morsi when he was a senior member of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood.

In the interview, obtained by the New York Times, he urges Egyptians to "nurse our children and our grandchildren on hatred for Jews and Zionists."

In a television interview months later, he described Zionists as "these bloodsuckers who attack the Palestinians, these warmongers, the descendants of apes and pigs," the newspaper said.

According to Reuters, White House spokesman Jay Carney said the language Morsi used was "deeply offensive" and that US officials had raised concerns with the Egyptian government on the matter.

Earlier on Tuesday, the US government strongly condemned his comments, urging him to repudiate his remarks.

Morsi met with a delegation of six US senators led by Senator John McCain earlier in the week.

“Morsi assured the delegation that the comments broadcasted were taken from a speech about the Israeli aggression against Gaza that was happening at the time,” Ali said.

"The president respects all religions and upholds religious freedom," he added.