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.