Newton’s elected officials have avoided talking about the situation in Gaza, but City Councilor Bill Humphrey isn’t holding back.

On Tuesday, Humphrey posted on Instagram about the Israeli/Palestinian conflict and the situation in Gaza, referring to it as a genocide.

“Over the past nearly two years, many of our Newton community members have been profoundly distressed by the unfolding incontrovertible genocide by the State of Israel in Gaza,” Humphrey’s post begins.

The word “genocide”—used by many people who have opposed Israel’s military operations in Gaza following Hamas’ killing of more than 1,000 Israeli civilians in an October 2023 terror attack—has found its way into mainstream conversations in recent weeks as the military operation approaches its second anniversary and photos of the carnage and of starving Gazan children have emerged.

At the same time, others have said the use of the word “genocide” is inaccurate and a loaded word to use when discussing Israel, which was created as a homeland for Jewish people after the Holocaust.

That aside, Humphrey’s Instagram post focuses on how the Gaza crisis affects people in Newton and the silence of Newton’s leaders.

“The events there have corroded community bonds here,” the post continues. Deep down, all our residents know this situation is wrong, regardless of the failures of leadership from, and poor examples set by, our elected officials. As a community, we have not handled this crisis well, nor reflected and protected our full diversity.”

He finishes his post by stating solidarity with others who share his views.

“I want residents who oppose the attempted annihilation and expulsion of the people of Gaza, especially those residents whose Palestinian friends and family have been enduring this daily or have already perished, to know that you are not alone,” his post concludes. “Your values are Newton values. You are supported by your neighbors from among all faiths and ethnicities. You are welcome here. Someday, nearly everyone will acknowledge the reality of what has occurred. I urge anyone to acknowledge it now.”

Instagram post by City Councilor Bill, Humphrey. Screenshot

Humphrey, a progressive who has never been shy about his opinions, has faced past backlash over Israel accompanied by accusations of antisemitism.

A few years ago, when City Councilor Rick Lipof penned a letter for the City Council to sign admonishing an online “mapping project” that showed the locations of what it said were places that supported oppression of Palestinians and ended up being a map of synagogues and Jewish schools in the area, Humphrey was the lone city councilor who declined to sign it. He said he didn’t see it as the City Council’s job to speak out on every internet controversy.

When the Newton Teachers Association held a rally for Humphrey last summer as he was running for state representative, protesters arrived carrying signs accusing Humphrey of antisemitism, largely due to his not signing that letter years before.

The protesters also took issue with the NTA endorsement, not because of the NTA, but because the state teachers’ union had distributed materials about Israel that many found to be antisemitic in nature.