Ben & Jerry's Israel Stance Sparks Debate

The leadership at ice cream maker Ben & Jerry's calling for a "permanent and immediate ceasefire" in Gaza has sparked debate on social media.

Tensions heightened in the region after Hamas on October 7 led a surprise attack on Israel, which it said was retribution for worsening conditions for Palestinians under Israeli occupation. More than 200 people were taken hostage in the attack.

Israel subsequently declared war on Hamas and launched hundreds of airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, followed by a ground invasion. At least 1,200 people were killed in Israel, the Associated Press has reported, and more than 24,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to health authorities in Gaza, the AP says.

The discourse around the conflict has proved to be contentious over the past few months, with people divided in their support of either side. There have also been calls for a ceasefire in what is the latest outbreak of hostility between Israel and Palestinians.

Ben & Jerry's board chair Anuradha Mittal told the Financial Times in an interview published on Tuesday that the company's stance on peace in Gaza is "consistent with the company's history and values."

"Peace is a core value of Ben & Jerry's. From Iraq to Ukraine [the company] has consistently stood up for these principles," Mittal told the publication. "Today is no different as we call for peace and a permanent and immediate ceasefire."

The stance of the company—which was founded by Jewish businessmen Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield in Burlington, Vermont, back in 1978—sparked a wave of divided comments when Mittal's quotes were shared on X, formerly Twitter.

"I mean, they built their HQ on stolen land but sure...," wrote one detractor.

The comment was made in reference to the company being questioned as to when it would give up its Burlington headquarters—which sits on a vast swathe of U.S. territory that was under the auspices of the Abenaki people before colonization.

Calls for Ben & Jerry's to give up the land came after the company called for "stolen" lands to be returned in a pre-Fourth of July message.

Referencing this controversy, another X user said of Ben & Jerry's Israel stance: "They can't say s*** until they sort out the fact that their HQ sits on 'stolen' land. Funny how that whole thing just silently faded away.

"Not that I care. Just funny when they have to play by their own rules, it just fades away never to be discussed again. LOL."

Another responded to the statement by suggesting new flavors for Ben & Jerry's: "Taliban Toffee Crunch, Gaza Granola, Palestine Pistachio. Limited time only."

"Hamas [wouldn't] call for a ceasefire if they were the most equipped," one detractor commented, while another chimed in: "If they lived over there, then maybe they could have a say. But that is their country and they should defend it however they wish."

"It really sucks boycotting their ice cream because it's damn good," said another.

"Ben & Jerry's 'Bud Light' moment has come!" declared another X user, referring to the devastating boycotts the beer maker faced in 2023 following its small marketing collaboration with transgender TikTok influencer Dylan Mulvaney.

While the company's stance sparked a wave of negative comments from X users, several others expressed their support, including one who wrote: "Every pause saves innocent lives, longer ones save more."

Over on Instagram, the company's most recent post, about reparations from Black American descendants of slaves, has been flooded with comments praising their stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict.

"Thank you for speaking out for a ceasefire, this means so much," said one Instagram user, while another wrote that they "loved you guys anyway and now will be buying ONLY your ice [cream]!"

"I admire you so much Ben and Jerry's!" commented another. "Thank you for your stances for equality and justice. Thanks for being delicious too. All of my discretionary ice cream funds will be going to you."

"Thank you for standing up for Humanity & Peace in Gaza," read another post.

This isn't the first time the company has faced pushback for its views on social matters. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis took a harsh stance against the company after Ben & Jerry's stopped selling its ice cream in contested Israeli territories in 2021. The company also faced scrutiny when it released its "Change Is Brewing" flavor in 2019 that advocated for the right to vote. It also has been vocal about supporting the Black Lives Matter initiative since 2016.

In March 2023, there was controversy over Ben & Jerry's co-founder Cohen's stance against the U.S. continuing to support Ukraine with funds and weapons amid its long-running war with neighboring Russia.

Ben & Jerry's Public Relations Director Sean Greenwood told Newsweek at the time that while Cohen was acting in a personal capacity, not as a representative of Ben & Jerry's, the company also opposed the war.

"Ben & Jerry's stands firmly against military action of any kind to alter national borders, which is why we remain opposed to Russia's invasion of Ukraine," Greenwood said.