Cosmetics chain Lush has shut all of its UK stores and closed its website for the day in solidarity with people starving in Gaza, the retailer said.
The natural cosmetics brand has also closed its factories, with more than 100 stores in the country, including its flagship spa on London’s Oxford Street, marked as “temporarily closed” on Google Maps on Wednesday.
In a statement on its website, the company said: “Across the Lush business we share the anguish that millions of people feel seeing the images of starving people in Gaza, Palestine.
“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 business, which trades in more than 50 countries, said it has put messages in the windows of closed shops which read: “Stop starving Gaza, we are closed in solidarity.”
The Prime Minister last month said the UK will recognise a Palestinian state later in September unless Israel agrees to meet certain conditions, including addressing the humanitarian crisis, implementing a ceasefire and reviving the prospect of a two-state solution.
In a statement on the Middle East to the House of Commons on Monday, Foreign Secretary David Lammy told MPs Gaza is experiencing a “man-made famine” as the war continues.
Lush said it will lose a day of takings and the UK Government will lose a day of tax contributions from the business and its customers.
“We hope they (UK Government) 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,” the statement said.
Speaking to James O’Brien on LBC, Lush co-founder and chief executive Mark Constantine said: “Something has to give, doesn’t it? We would like to point out, especially to our Government and to everyone else that you know we’re expecting them to do something.”
Asked how much the closure would cost the company, he said “around £300,000”.
He added: “Well, it would be good to be able to pay for food to go into Gaza, wouldn’t it?
“Rather than just sacrifice it, I mean, we have debated so many different things that we could do or might do, and this was in the end, it was just that this is what we’re doing.”
The company, founded in the UK, added: “It feels important that we lift our voice first from here in the UK, however we know that sentiment across the international Lush business is strong and we expect similar actions may follow as other Lush countries seek ways to express their solidarity.”
