Lush says companies should use 'power and privilege' to speak out over Gaza

Lush Cosmetics has defended its decision to close its stores in a one-day act of solidarity with Gaza, with its director of ethics telling Middle East Eye it was an "act of desperation".

Hilary Jones said companies had a duty to use their platforms to raise global issues.

"People in positions of power and privilege, which we are, we own shops on the busiest high streets in the world and we should be using that platform to help people who don't have that platform," she said.

"And in the circumstance at the moment, the people of Gaza are not being heard, they're not being seen. And so, it was a no-brainer for us to use our windows to say something and to bring it to the attention of the government."

The company, one of the largest beauty retailers in the UK, shut its shops in the country in a one-day demonstration of solidarity with Gaza on Wednesday.

Read more: Lush says companies should use 'power and privilege' to speak out over Gaza