Protestors disrupt Bisalloy Steel operations, opposing Israel exports
Up to 100 protesters used signs and camp equipment to block two main gates at Bisalloy Steel in Unanderra on Sunday night.
Bisalloy Steel is Australia's only manufacturer of quenched and tempered steel plates suitable for armour applications.
It has previously supplied Israeli arms company, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.
Protesters said they were participating in the action because they believed Bisalloy's steel trade with Israel was aiding the Israeli Defence Force, making the company complicit in the killing of civilians.
In a statement to the ABC, a Bisalloy spokesperson said the company only export its product "with the appropriate government approvals".
"[Bisalloy] does not manufacture steel products for the use in bullets, missiles or similar weapons," it said.
Protest organiser and Palestinian woman, Safaa Rayan, said anticipated shift change overs at 11pm and 7am did not proceed, with no workers attempting to access or leave the site.
"It's now 7:02am," Ms Rayan said outside the factory on Monday.
The company did not confirm if it altered planned work as a result of the protests.
The protest came amid deteriorating conditions for Palestinians in Gaza recent weeks, with major aid agencies sounding the alarm about mass starvation, prompting Israel to open corridors for aid.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Sunday said Israel was "quite clearly" breaching international law.
Bisalloy moved its annual general meeting online in October last year in response to the previous protests at its Unanderra site.
In a video of the AGM posted online by financial journalist Stephen Mayne, Bisalloy Steel chief executive Rowan Melrose said sales to Israeli companies over the past three years made up between 0.6 and 1.9 per cent of the company's revenue.
"I also will state that we do not manufacture steel for munitions," he told investors.
The company did not confirm if it had existing contracts with Israeli companies, except to say its products were sold "both in Australia and internationally".
Picket co-organiser Jeremy Kerbel, who last year was arrested during a sit-in at the site, said protesters were demanding the company cease trade with Israel.
"A lot of people from across the Illawarra have come here to say that Bisalloy is doing the unthinkable — aiding a genocide — and we want them to stop," he said.
The Israeli government has been facing genocide allegations brought by South Africa in the International Court of Justice, but strongly denied its actions in Gaza were genocidal.
Arthur Truman and Nicole Milinkovic travelled from Campbelltown to attend the protest.
"It was important for us to make even just the littlest bit of impact," Ms Milinkovic said.
Long-time Wollongong resident Angela Scott camped out with her partner.
She said it was her third time picketing the company.
"I think this is the most important issue of our times," she said.
Ms Rayan said she was proud of the community for continuing to apply pressure on the company.
"I am so proud of my community for coming out, for supporting this picket, for standing with the people of Palestine in saying 'people over profits'," she said.
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