Retail giant Lush Cosmetics closed all 100+ of its UK stores on 3rd September, plus its stores in Northern Ireland on 4th September, in solidarity with Gaza and to protest the mass starvation of its people. Lush’s shop windows featured a poster which read: “Stop starving Gaza – we are closed in solidarity”.

Lush’s online statement further highlighted its past solidarity with the Palestinian cause, referring to its “fundraising soap” Watermelon Slice which “has been the most successful single issue fundraising product in the history of Lush”, and had raised funds towards child mental health support in Palestine. Lush is now planning to bring Watermelon Slice soap back to shelves, with the funds going to medical services including to help provide prosthetic limb services to adults and children in Gaza.