Washington: A protest erupted during a U.S. Senate meeting as Ben Cohen, co-founder of the ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's, and others interrupted proceedings to condemn U.S. military support for Israel amid the ongoing Gaza conflict. The protest took place while Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was presenting a budget proposal.
Shouting, "The US Congress is paying for bombs that kill children in Gaza," Cohen and fellow protestors stood up with placards before being swiftly removed by police. Video footage shows officials intervening quickly, and the protestors, including Cohen, were arrested for conspiracy and disrupting a congressional meeting.
Ben Cohen used the moment to criticize both Israel and U.S. policy, urging Israel to provide food to the starving children in Gaza. He stated that the U.S. is giving Israel $20 billion in bombs while children in Gaza are dying of hunger, questioning the morality of such actions.
Cohen further remarked that the U.S. spends nearly half its budget on war-related efforts, calling it a reflection of the country’s values. He argued that international issues can and should be resolved without resorting to violence, and that if even half of the military budget were directed toward constructive global initiatives, wars like this could be avoided.
The protest highlights growing dissatisfaction among activists and some public figures with continued U.S. support for Israel amid a humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
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