Lush, Leeds: Health and beauty retailer shuts Commercial Street store and all UK sites 'in solidarity with Gaza'
Lush has closed its stores across the UK as a way of showing solidarity with the people in Palestine.
Shoppers in Leeds stopped on Commercial Street as they noticed the signs outside of the closed Lush store that read: “STOP STARVING GAZA - WE ARE CLOSED IN SOLIDARITY.”
The health and beauty brand has issued a statement calling for more government action as it confirmed that it has closed all of its stores and factories in the UK today (Wednesday) and has also taken down its website.
A statement reads: “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 move comes after the world’s leading authority on food crises said last month that Gaza was in the throes of famine while leading genocide scholars have joined other rights groups in accusing Israel of genocide, allegations it vehemently rejects.
Lush said that closing the stores was “not an easy decision” and apologised to any customers affected.
The statement reads: “Whilst Lush is losing a day of takings, this also means that the UK Government is losing a day of tax contributions from Lush and our customers.
“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.”
The company, which is known for its bath bombs and other unique beauty products, has released fundraising products that have gone towards child mental health support in Palestine and it says it plans to provide funds to medical services, including charities that are gearing up to provide prosthetic limb services to adults and children injured in Gaza.