The Lush in Stirling’s Thistle Centre shopping centre has shut down alongside all other U.K. stores and factories today, September 3, in solidarity with civilians suffering in Gaza as a result of the ongoing Israeli invasion.
The shops will be shut for the full day, whilst their shopfront website displays the message “STOP STARVING GAZA – WE ARE CLOSED IN SOLIDARITY” in the colours of the Palestinian flag.
Lush will close its Irish stores tomorrow, Thursday September 4.
In a statement, Lush recognised that the closures will cost them in lost sales, but added that the UK Government will also lose a day of tax revenue from them and their customers, sending a message that “more Government action” is needed.
The cosmetics shop is a high-street staple with over 100 outlets across the UK, including that above, based in Stirling’s Thistles Shopping Centre.
It also follows Lush’s 2024 pledge to dedicate 100 per cent of the profits from its watermelon soap to projects that support children in the West Bank and Gaza.
Watermelons, which share the green, white, black, and red of the Palestinian flag, were used as replacements following historical Israeli bans on the flag’s display in the late 20th century.
Social media co-opted this for the modern age, and watermelons quickly became an international symbol of Palestinian solidarity.
Scottish measures against Israel
Also on Wednesday, Scottish First Minister John Swinney announced a raft of measures taken against Israel by the Scottish Government.
These included a halt to the award of public funds to companies supplying Israel with arms, multiple financial awards to charities and UN agencies that provide support to Palestinians inside and outside of Gaza, and support for Scottish legal experts to gather evidence for international criminal cases.
Meanwhile, Swinney called on the UK to recognise a Palestinian state, a move due this month unless Israel meets certain conditions, including a ceasefire.
The Palestinian flag was also flown outside the Scottish Government headquarters at St Andrew’s House in Edinburgh.
The full raft of measures can be found on the Scottish Government website.
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