ALBAWABA - On Wednesday, the cosmetics company Lush closed all of its stores, factories, and online operations in the UK for a short time to show support for Palestinians in Gaza. This move drew praise and strong criticism from around the world.
The 24-hour shutdown happened at the same time as a big banner at the top of Lush's website that said "Stop starving Gaza" and had the Palestinian flag on it. We are closing in support.
The move goes along with Lush's re-release of its limited-edition Watermelon Soap, which has become a symbol of Palestinian solidarity because the colors of the soap look like the Palestinian flag.
The company promised to give 75% of the soap's profits to help Gaza's amputee population, which the UN calls "the largest group of child amputees in modern history." Since the war started, there have been more than 4,700 cases.
Lush first released the product in mid-2024 to help kids' mental health in war zones, but they brought it back because the humanitarian crisis was getting worse.
Pushback from Pro-Israel Groups
The campaign has made pro-Israel groups very angry, especially in the US, where big posters promoting the product showed up in stores in New York.
People on X called for a boycott and said that Lush was "funding Hamas." The U.S. branch of the right-wing Zionist group Beitar also joined the campaign, saying that the company's charitable work was a way to support Hamas politically.
Lush Stands By Its Position
Lush said in an official statement that it "shares the pain of millions watching starvation unfold in Gaza" and criticized Israel for continuing to block humanitarian aid.
The brand said that it can't change the way things are politically, but it "can send love, solidarity, and a loud message to demand an end to starvation."
A History of Support
The company is well-known for speaking out about humanitarian issues. Lush also closed its UK stores in 2024 to protest what it called Israel's "genocidal campaign" and the forced starvation of civilians.
