• Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben & Jerry's, was arrested during a Senate hearing protest against U.S. support for Israel.
• Cohen disrupted a session led by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., shouting about the consequences of Congressional funding.
• The protest included seven arrests, with multiple charges against other demonstrators.

Ben Cohen, co-founder of the ice cream brand Ben & Jerry’s, was arrested on Wednesday during a protest at a U.S. Senate hearing over military aid to Israel amidst the war in Gaza. As Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testified about funding for U.S. health agencies, Cohen shouted, “Congress kills poor kids in Gaza by buying bombs and pays for it by kicking kids off Medicaid in the US,” before being forcibly removed by police, according to Newsweek and HuffPost.

Amidst this disruption, Cohen was one of seven individuals detained by U.S. Capitol Police under charges of crowding, obstructing, and incommoding, often associated with civil disobedience actions. Other protesters faced additional charges, including assaulting police officers, as reported by Al Jazeera and India Times.

In response to his arrest, Cohen later stated, “I can't call myself an American and not put my body on the line,” emphasizing that he felt compelled to protest against what he characterized as the U.S. government’s complicity in the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where significant aid blockades have resulted in dire conditions for civilians. He reinforced his message calling for food aid to starving children in Gaza during the chaos of the hearing, according to Middle East Eye and New York Times.

Ben & Jerry's has a noted history of activism, including a public stance in 2021 to halt sales in Israeli settlements, a decision praised by the co-founders. However, friction has developed between Ben & Jerry’s and its parent company Unilever over alleged interference in the brand's social missions, including a lawsuit regarding the dismissal of Chief Executive David Stever, as discussed by BBC and Salon.

This protest and subsequent arrest highlight ongoing tensions concerning U.S. support for Israel and the humanitarian impact in Gaza, with Cohen stating that in the wake of Congressional actions, he felt personally compelled to advocate for change even at the risk of arrest, according to Anadolu Agency and India Times.