Lush shut NI stores in solidarity with Gaza

A handwritten sign in the window of their Belfast flagship store read “Stop starving Gaza”

Cosmetics brand Lush has closed both of its Northern Ireland stores in solidarity with the people of Gaza.

The chain, which operates stores in Belfast and Newry, has closed all of its stores and factories in the UK in a move of solidarity. While the company has stores in over 50 countries, including the Republic of Ireland, only its UK operations have been impacted.

A sign in the window of their flagship Belfast city centre store read “stop starving Gaza” and directed customers to their website for further details.

In a statement posted on their website, Lush Cosmetics said: “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. This will take the form of halting business-as-usual by shutting our UK shops, website and factories for one day on Wednesday 3rd September 2025, with our shop windows displaying the message STOP STARVING GAZA – WE ARE CLOSED IN SOLIDARITY.

“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 – we ask for forgiveness from any customers we inconvenience should they come to us on 3rd September and find us closed. However, we know that many of our customers share the same anxiety about the current situation in Gaza. Our fundraising soap, Watermelon Slice, has been the most successful single-issue fundraising product in the history of Lush, indicating how strongly our customers feel, and we are grateful to have been able to raise funds towards child mental health support in Palestine. We now plan to make this soap available again, with the funds going to medical services, including charities that are gearing up to provide prosthetic limb services to adults and children injured in Gaza.

“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.”

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