Ben & Jerrys rips Israel for genocide in Gaza amid fight with parent company Unilever

Ben & Jerry’s stoked controversy on Thursday after its independent board issued a statement labeling the conflict in Gaza a “genocide” — placing renewed strain on its already tense relationship with parent company Unilever.“We stand with all who raise their voices against genocide in Gaza—from petition-signers to street marchers to those risking arrest,” the left-leaning ice cream maker’s board said in a statement that was first reported by The Wall Street Journal.“When humanity is at stake, silence is not an option, now is the time to speak truth to power.”The statement marks one of the most forceful corporate condemnations of Israel’s conduct in Gaza since the conflict began, and could further deepen the divide between Ben & Jerry’s progressive board and the more cautious multinational that owns it.Ben & Jerry’s has long used its brand to champion progressive causes.In 2021, it stopped selling ice cream in Israeli-occupied territories, citing inconsistency with its values — a move that triggered backlash, shareholder divestment and legal disputes with parent company Unilever.

Though the matter was settled in 2022, a new lawsuit alleges Unilever has again tried to silence the brand’s support for Palestinian rights.Unilever on Thursday quickly moved to distance itself from the board’s remarks.“The members of Ben & Jerry’s social mission board do not speak for anyone other than themselves,” a Unilever spokesperson told the Journal on Thursday.“We call for peace in the region and for relief for all those whose lives have been impacted.”The response is the latest indication of a longstanding and fraught dynamic between the Vermont-based brand and its London-based owner.Last month, Unilever said it had no intention of selling Ben & Jerry’s — despite a bid by the founders of the popular ice cream brand to buy back the company.Unilever also recently threatened to cut its $5 million annual funding to the Be...