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.

In escalation of long-running tensions, the ice-cream brand says its parent company blocked statements in support of Palestinian rights.

Ben & Jerry’s has claimed Unilever threatened to dismantle its independent board and “silenced” the brand over its support for Palestinian refugees, in the latest legal flare-up between the ice cream brand and its parent company.