Maine Senate hopeful Troy Jackson suggests Jewish residents hesitate to call Gaza war a genocide due to Holocaust legacy

Maine Democratic Senate hopeful Troy Jackson has stated that Jewish residents in his state are reluctant to label Israel's war in Gaza a genocide, suggesting this hesitation is "only because they're Jewish." Jackson made these remarks on Tuesday, addressing pressure from his party's left wing to more strongly condemn Israel's actions.

"It's unfortunate that there are people here in Maine that don't like to use that term only because they're Jewish and what that means to them, with the Holocaust," Jackson said, according to Jewish Insider. He asserted that the situation in Gaza fits the definition of genocide, describing it as an "unbelievable thing that's happened there that people that are innocent are being murdered, and it is a genocide."

According to Pew Research Center data, Jewish individuals constitute about 1% of Maine's 1.4 million population. Jackson also commented on the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks that initiated the conflict, stating, "There's people that are wrong on both sides of this issue. But in the end, senseless murders, horrific murders are happening to both sides, and that has to stop."

Jackson called for an end to U.S. aid to Israel while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whom Jackson referred to as a "war criminal," remains in office. "I don't want the United States sending money, a blank check to him anymore, watching young children, innocent people die. I mean, I just disagree with that," he stated. "But in the end, senseless murders, horrific murders are happening to both sides, and that has to stop."

Experts have noted that the ratio of civilian to combatant deaths in Gaza is reportedly the lowest in modern warfare history. Jackson's campaign did not immediately respond to requests for further comment or context regarding his statements.

The Maine Senate race is considered crucial for Democrats seeking to regain control of the Senate. Current polling aggregates from RealClearPolitics show Jackson holding a narrow lead of 0.9 percentage points over incumbent Senator Susan Collins, a Republican.