Wollongong's Friends of Palestine hold 'family friendly' picket

While Sydney protests over Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit turned violent this week, Wollongong Friends of Palestine said their two-day picket in Unanderra was “peaceful” and “family friendly”.

Spokeswoman Safaa Rayan estimates that, from 8pm on Sunday until 4pm Tuesday, about 500 people took turns to camp out in front of Bisalloy Steels' Unanderra site in protest of what they say is the company's supply of armoured steel exports to Israel during the war in Gaza.

Protestors set up about 40 tents along the company's front fence, while others occupied campervans. When the Flame visited on Monday morning, children were enjoying a story-time session, and volunteers at a Food Not Bombs tent were making meals for participants.

“I spent both nights there and it was a really great atmosphere,” Safaa said. “The atmosphere was joyful. It was calm, family friendly. We had pancakes. We had for breakfast, lentils, which is very Gazan. I made a lot of Palestinian [food], I made some okra dishes.

“I feel the big win is we finally got Bisalloy to admit on record that they do have a relationship, and they do trade with the Israeli military. Their last AGM said that they've had a 20-year relationship providing the tempered steel to Israel, so that, in and of itself, has been a big win on our part, and also disrupting the operations for 48 hours. 

“For every hour we're at Bisalloy, it might be saving a Palestinian child's life.”

A Bisalloy spokesperson declined to comment.

Safaa said she had picketed outside the company nine times, driven by sorrow and a desire for peace. The group has also held monthly women’s breakfasts, rallies in the CBD and last year marched across Sea Cliff Bridge.

“I'm a local to the Illawarra, but I also happen to be of Palestinian origin,” Safaa said. “My father comes from Gaza, and my mother comes from Jerusalem. Why am I doing this? Because I, too, am in grief. Consistently. I have lost around 48 family members since Israel has started their genocide in Gaza in October 2023, and we continue to lose family in Gaza.”

In October 2024, her cousin’s son, Obeida, was asleep in a tent when the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) attacked.

“That was my cousin's only child, and a bomb fell on that tent and killed that child. He was an 11-year-old boy, so it was especially hard – because he is the same age as my daughter.”

Visit sparked protests

While the local picket was peaceful, President Herzog’s visit sparked large protests in Sydney and Melbourne. In the lead-up to the Israeli leader’s visit, the Cunningham electorate office was vandalised in a graffiti attack. Member for Cunningham Alison Byrnes described the behaviour as “unacceptable”.

“Local residents have strong views about this matter but I urge everyone to engage in political debate safely and respectfully,” she said. “I hope to see everyone continue to put kindness and unity above division so that we can preserve the true Australian spirit in the face of such horrific displays of hate and violence.

“President Herzog was invited at the request of the Australian Jewish Community specifically to honour and remember victims of the Bondi antisemitic terrorist attack and support the Australian Jewish community who are grieving the loss of 15 innocent lives.

“The Prime Minister has stressed that this is not a time for partisan politics and the objective is to present a united national front that transcends local and political divisions, emphasising our shared commitment to countering hate and extremism in all forms as our Jewish community mourns the loss of members of the community." 

‘Exact wrong person,’ says UN commissioner

Safaa appeared on a local panel last year with Australian human rights lawyer Chris Sidoti, who works on the United Nations' independent international commission of inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory. In a recent interview, he told the ABC that President Herzog was "divisive" and “the exact wrong person if we want to build national unity social cohesion”.

"As head of state, he is the representative of a rogue state that international courts have found is acting unlawfully, and a state that is before the International Court of Justice on the charge of genocide,” the UN commissioner said, adding that a religious leader would have been preferable. "Somebody who, in fact, firstly, can provide real comfort and support for the families, and secondly, someone who can speak to the nation about compassion, solidarity, sharing, about unity.”

Safaa agreed, saying: “I feel a deep sense of betrayal from the Australian government.”

Bisalloy noted protests in AGM

Bisalloy Steels is Australia's only maker of quenched and tempered steel plates, which may be used in mining, agriculture, construction, security and defence. Its website says it is “proudly supporting Australia’s defence forces with impact-resistant armour plate”.

The company’s 2025 annual general meeting noted the meeting was held remotely due to protestors “who seek to end our 20+ year business relationship with several leading Israeli companies”. The chairman’s address stated: “We stress again that the plate we supply to these companies is sold under licence approved by the Australian Government and that the quantities we supply are insufficient to make the heavy weapons we are accused of abetting.”

Soccer fundraiser next Saturday

Safaa said the Illawarra had a history of standing for peace, dating from the 1938 dockers strike over pig iron bound for military production in Japan.

“I would just like the community in the Illawarra to know that this is an ongoing process,” she said.

On February 21, Wollongong Friends of Palestine is planning a soccer match to raise funds for the West Bank’s Aida refugee camp.

“I would love for more people in our community to join us and come check it out. It's a really calm, friendly environment.”