Beauty chain Lush has shut its UK shops, website and factories in protest at the Israeli government “preventing urgent humanitarian assistance from entering Gaza”.
In a statement, the firm said more action was also needed by the British government “to bring an immediate stop to the death and destruction, including an end to arms sales from the UK”.
It said it had decided to close stores for the day on Wednesday and place posters on windows with the message: “Stop starving Gaza – we are closed in solidarity.”
“Across the Lush business, we share the anguish that millions of people feel seeing the images of starving people in Gaza, Palestine,” the chain said 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. This will take the form of halting business-as-usual by shutting our UK shops, website, and factories for one day.”
It added that “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 statement added.
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Gaza soap most popular in history
The firm apologised to customers for any inconvenience, but said that its Gaza fundraising soap Watermelon Slice has proved the most successful in its history, “indicating how strongly our customers feel”.
So far proceeds have gone towards funding mental health support for children, but there are plans to remarket the product to raise money for medical supplies.
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In solidarity action elsewhere, climate activist Greta Thunberg embarked on her second attempt to reach Gaza by sea on 31 August.
The 22 year old was accompanied by other activists and was cheered on by thousands of supporters as the flotilla set off from Barcelona stocked with aid. Her previous attempt in June saw her and others detained and deported by the Israeli authorities.
Reporters Without Borders has also renewed calls to stop the killing of journalists inside the territory after five, from Al Jazeera, the Associated Press, and Reuters, were confirmed dead.
Israel vehemently disputes claims its forces have intentionally killed reporters or civilians, saying its sole aim is to destroy Hamas.
It has intensified its military offensive, attacking Gaza City and its outskirts by air and on the ground, declaring it a combat zone and a Hamas stronghold.
According to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, more than 63,600 Palestinians have been killed inside the strip since the 7 October attacks in 2023 that started the war.
On that day, Hamas militants killed 1,200 people in southern Israel, mainly civilians, and took 251 people hostage.
In the two years since, most of Gaza’s population has been displaced, with famine declared in Gaza City.
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