‘Stop starving Gaza’: Cosmetics giant Lush closes UK stores in solidarity with Palestinians

One of the largest beauty retailers in Britain has shut its UK shops in a one-day demonstration of solidarity with Gaza. 

Alongside its more than 100 locations in the UK, Lush Cosmetics also closed its factories and website on Wednesday. 

“Across the Lush business we share the anguish that millions of people feel seeing the images of starving people in Gaza, Palestine,” said the company in a statement. 

“Like the rest of the world, we struggle to find ways we can help whilst the Israeli government is preventing urgent humanitarian assistance from entering Gaza. 

“One thing Lush can currently send into Gaza is our love and a strong message that we stand in solidarity.”

The closure comes as Israel’s ongoing genocide in the Gaza Strip nears its second year, with a death toll of over 63,000, and amid a surge in famine-related deaths as Israel continues to block almost all food, aid and medical supplies from entering the besieged enclave. 

The company added that while it would lose income from its day of closure, it would also mean the UK government would lose a day of tax contributions from the company.

“We hope they too hear the message our closure sends, with more Government action needed to bring an immediate stop to the death and destruction, including an end to arms sales from the UK,” Lush said. 

The UK suspended some arms export licences to Israel in September 2024 over the risk of UK-made weapons being used in violation of international law in the Gaza Strip.  

Arms campaigners and dozens of MPs have called for a full embargo on arms exports to Israel and for the government to be more transparent about the military export licences it grants.

‘Everyone has a choice’

In its statement, Lush also announced the return of its fundraising soap “Watermelon Slice”, which it said was the most successful single issue product in the brand’s history, adding that future proceeds from this soap would go towards medical services in Gaza.

On social media, the response was overwhelmingly positive, with many users praising Lush. 

One user called it a “company with a conscience”, while another said that “everyone”, including businesses, had a “choice” to make with regard to Gaza. 

Another wrote: “When the history of Gaza's genocide is written, it'll note in disbelief that a cosmetics brand - trading in the superficial - showed more moral depth & clarity than all of West's ruling elites & academics combined.”

This is not the first time Lush has closed its stores in solidarity with a cause. 

In September 2019, the company closed its doors for a day as part of a global climate strike, inspired by Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg.