Ben Cohen, co‑founder of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream and a longtime progressive activist, has told AFP he was speaking for millions of Americans outraged by the “slaughter” in Gaza after his removal from a US  Senate hearing

Shouting that “Congress pays for bombs to kill children in Gaza” while lawmakers move to slash Medicaid — the health insurance program for low‑income families — the businessman and philanthropist was placed in handcuffs by Capitol Police.

He urged senators to press Israel to let food reach “starving kids” as he was led away.

“It got to a point where we had to do something,” Cohen said in an interview after his release, calling it “scandalising” that the US approved “$20 billion worth of bombs” for Israel even as social programs are squeezed back home.

“The majority of Americans hate what’s going on, what our country is doing with our money and in our name,” he said.