The ice cream brand, known for its activism, sued parent company Unilever, alleging it was blocked from calling for a cease-fire in Gaza.

In escalation of long-running tensions, the ice-cream brand says its parent company blocked statements in support of Palestinian rights.

Ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's said in a lawsuit filed Wednesday that parent company Unilever has silenced its attempts to express support for Palestinian refugees and threatened to dismantle its board and sue its members over the issue.

Ben & Jerry's independent board accuses Unilever of preventing the ice cream brand from advocating for Palestinian rights.

The ice cream maker claimed in a lawsuit that its parent company tried to stop it from expressing support for Palestinian refugees.

Ben & Jerry’s said in the lawsuit it has tried to call for a ceasefire, support the safe passage of Palestinian refugees to Britain, back students protesting at US colleges against civilian deaths in Gaza, and advocate for a halt in US military aid to Israel. The court filing was first reported by Reuters.

FMCG giant Unilever has dismissed Ben & Jerry's claims that it has silenced the ice-cream group's attempts to support Palestinian refugees in the Gaza conflict. Reports from Reuters suggest Ben & Jerry's filed a lawsuit this week against Unilever, claiming its parent company has prevented it from speaking out on the war.

It is not the first time tensions have been frosty between Ben & Jerry's and its parent company over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Beloved ice cream maker sues parent company over accusations it breached an agreement giving Ben & Jerry's responsibility over 'social mission'

Ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's said in a lawsuit filed Wednesday that parent company Unilever has silenced its attempts to express support for Palestinian refugees and threatened to dismantle its board and sue its members over the issue.