Troy Jackson criticizes Maine Jewish voters over Gaza genocide label

Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Troy Jackson has drawn attention for comments regarding Jewish voters in Maine and the conflict in Gaza. In an interview with Portland’s NBC affiliate, Jackson stated it is “unfortunate” that some Jewish residents in Maine decline to use the term “genocide” to describe Israel’s war in Gaza, suggesting their hesitation is linked to the historical memory of the Holocaust.

Jackson asserted that the war in Gaza “fits that description” and characterized the killing of innocent people as genocide. When addressing the role of Hamas in the conflict, Jackson suggested that “people that are wrong on both sides of this issue” and noted that horrific murders are occurring on both sides.

Additionally, the former Maine Senate president expressed opposition to continued U.S. military aid to Israel. He referred to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a “war criminal” and argued that the United States should stop sending what he described as “blank checks” to the Israeli government.