Cosmetics retailer Lush closed all 104 shops in the United Kingdom and Ireland, shut its website and paused production at three factories on Wednesday, declaring solidarity with Palestinians facing severe food shortages in Gaza.

Window posters displayed the message “Stop starving Gaza – we are closed in solidarity”, while the company’s homepage carried the same wording. In a statement, Lush said it felt “anguish that millions of people feel seeing the images of starving people in Gaza, Palestine” and argued that halting business was the most visible action it could take while humanitarian aid struggled to enter the territory.

The firm acknowledged the commercial cost of the 24-hour shutdown. “Providing our customers with the very best service is ingrained into everything we do at Lush, so shutting our shops is not an easy decision,” the company said, adding that many customers shared its concerns about the conflict. It noted that both the business and the UK government would forgo a day of revenue and tax receipts.

A separate statement on the company’s website apologised for inconvenience but said “we know that many of our customers share the same anxiety about the current situation in Gaza”

Lush also relaunched its Watermelon Slice soap, previously the firm’s most successful single-issue fundraising product. Proceeds will now support charities preparing medical supplies and prosthetic limb services for those injured in the conflict. The retailer, which operates in more than 50 countries, indicated that further one-day closures could occur in other markets.

The protest comes as the United Nations reiterates that Israel, as the occupying power, must ensure food and medicine reach Gaza’s population. Israel denies blocking aid, arguing that any shortages stem from Hamas control of supplies.

Lush has a history of activism, having earlier campaigned on climate change and refugee rights. By turning off tills and online checkout functions, the company said it hoped to send “a strong message” to policymakers about halting arms sales and intensifying diplomatic efforts to stop the fighting.

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