Progressive American activist Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s, was forcibly removed from the US Senate this week after calling out what he described as Washington’s direct role in the killing of Palestinian children in Gaza. Interrupting a congressional session, Cohen accused lawmakers of funding Israel’s war machine while slashing vital social support programmes at home.

As he was escorted out, Cohen denounced the ongoing blockade and called for immediate humanitarian access to the besieged enclave. “Let the food reach Gaza. Let the children eat,” he shouted, highlighting the dire conditions facing over a million displaced civilians.

Speaking to reporters after his release, the 74-year-old activist described US arms deals with Israel—reportedly worth billions—as a national disgrace, especially as domestic healthcare and welfare programmes face deep cuts. For Cohen, the moral crisis extends beyond Gaza’s borders, exposing a dangerous double standard in American policymaking.

A long-standing critic of Israeli policy, Cohen has consistently warned against the influence of pro-Israel lobbying groups in Washington and remains one of the few high-profile voices in the US linking domestic inequality to complicity in foreign atrocities.