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A community-organised picket of the Bisalloy Steel factory in Tharawal/Wollongong on November 15 plans to stop work at the site “for as long as possible”.

Bisalloy produces armoured steel for tanks and armoured vehicles used by Israel to conduct its genocide in Gaza and the Occupied West Bank.

It also works closely with Elbit Systems, Rheinmetal and Rafael — companies  for their complicity in the genocide.

Local unionists, students and anti-war activists are expected to join the picket from 6am, with many travelling from across New South Wales to show support.

Local parents will blockade the entrance with prams and music — activities and hot food will be available.

Tharawal-based social worker and Palestinian Safaa Rayan said: “To know that a company so close to where I live is actively supporting the country responsible for the murder, displacement and imprisonment of our family members is profoundly disturbing.”

She said her aunt’s home has been demolished four times, likely by tanks armoured with Bisalloy Steel.

“I just wonder when the CEOs and shareholders of Bisalloy will see our families as equally deserving of life as their own families,” Palestinian community member Lena Moyazani said.

This is the fourth picket organised at Bisalloy Steel. The September picket shut the factory down for a .

Last week the company’s annual general meeting was moved online, after the community announced it would protest outside.  

A local Jewish man was arrested in January for protesting Bisalloy, after police broke up a 30-person peaceful sit-in at the company’s office. Four people were arrested in April for entering the facility and locking on to machinery.

 the November 15 date is significant as it marks 86 years since the 1939 , when Port Kembla workers blocked the export of steel to Japan over its invasion of China.

“We are picketing Bisalloy Steel for basically the same reasons — we don’t want Illawarra steel to aid and abet genocide in Palestine.”

Bisalloy announced on November 12 that it would be forcing workers to cross the picket lines. “This means we need your help more than ever,” Wollongong Friends of Palestine said.

Stopping Bisalloy is “one of the most important things we can do in Australia”, said local resident Yaakov.

“[Foreign minister] Penny Wong’s expressions of concern do not save lives. What does save lives is disrupting Bisalloy’s business. If they are not able to get out a shipment on time, if they are one part short for their steel exports, that means one less tank in the Gaza Strip.”

[ on November 15.]