WASHINGTON — Democratic Maine Senate hopeful Troy Jackson complained that Jewish residents of his state have been reluctant to label Israel’s war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip a genocide, saying that hesitation was “only because they’re Jewish.”

Jackson, who has faced pressure from his left flank to more forcefully condemn the Jewish state, made the comment Tuesday to Portland’s NBC affiliate.

“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,” said Jackson, according to Jewish Insider.

“[Israel’s war in Gaza] fits that description and it is. It’s [an] unbelievable thing that’s happened there that people that are innocent are being murdered, and it is a genocide.”

Just 1% of Maine’s 1.4 million population identifiy as Jewish, according to the Pew Research Center, and the state is routinely characterized as one of the least religious in the US.

In addition, experts have noted that the ratio of confirmed civilian deaths to combatant deaths in Gaza is the lowest in the history of modern warfare.

When asked about Hamas’ attack against Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which sparked the conflict, Jackson responded with equivalence, saying: “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.”

The Democrat also called for an end to all US aid to Israel at least while Benjamin Netanyahu, who Jackson called a “war criminal” was prime minister.

“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 said. “But in the end, senseless murders, horrific murders are happening to both sides, and that has to stop.”

Jackson’s campaign did not immediately respond to requests for additional comment or context for his remarks.

The Maine Senate race is widely regarded as a must-win for Democrats to regain control of the upper chamber.

Jackson currently has a 0.9 percentage-point edge over incumbent Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), according to the latest RealClearPolitics polling aggregate.