Ben & Jerry's has initiated legal action against its parent company, Unilever, accusing it of violating contractual obligations by censoring the ice cream maker's advocacy efforts for Palestinians, especially concerning the Gaza war. The lawsuit claims Unilever threatened to dismantle the independent board and censor statements regarding peace and refugee rights, amidst tensions following the 2021 decision to halt sales in Israeli settlements. Unilever, which acquired Ben & Jerry's in 2000, maintains it will defend against the claims rigorously, rejecting the allegations made by the ice cream brand's social mission board.