Ben & Jerry’s Sues Unilever Over Allegations of Palestinian Silencing

Ben & Jerry’s is suing its parent company, Unilever, over claims that it was silenced from speaking out about Palestinian refugees during the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict. The ice cream brand alleges that Unilever blocked its attempts to publicly support Palestinian causes, including advocating for a ceasefire and urging UK leaders to facilitate safe passage for refugees.

The lawsuit, filed in New York on November 14, asserts that Unilever violated a 2022 settlement agreement, in which the company agreed to respect Ben & Jerry’s independent board’s responsibility for the brand’s social mission. Ben & Jerry’s claims that despite its efforts to speak out on human rights, Unilever silenced each attempt.

This is not the first conflict between Ben & Jerry’s and Unilever over political and social activism. In 2021, Ben & Jerry’s made headlines by announcing it would no longer sell ice cream in parts of Palestine occupied by Israel, which led to Unilever selling the Israeli arm of the brand to a local operator. Political activism has been a cornerstone of Ben & Jerry’s identity, with co-founder Ben Cohen being arrested for protesting in Washington D.C. in 2023.