Sign this petition to pledge your support for the demands that UOW disclose and divest from its ties to Israel and the ongoing genocide in Palestine. 

The University of Wollongong is complicit in genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity committed by Israel in Palestine, and the death and suffering of the Palestinian people. UOW is complicit through its research collaborations, its academic relationship with Hebrew University, and the university's overall commitment to militarist focused research, collaborations, and output. 

As of the 7th of September 2024, since the 7th of October 2023, at least 40'878 people have been murdered in Palestine. With each day that passes, more people are slaughtered by Israel, or otherwise are starving, injured, experiencing psychological anguish from grief and trauma, exposed to disease and contamination (such as Polio, and polluted water from damaged infrastructure), sick, and suffering.

Our universities and government continue to be complicit in, and actively supportive of, acts recognised by the ICC and ICJ to be war crimes and crimes against humanity, and are supplying the material support to perpetuate these atrocities.

UOW pretends to be an ethical institution, promoting values of sustainability, equality, positive change, and 'knowledge for a better world'. Such claims by UOW are hollow of any truth or meaning, while they are profiting from and contributing to the most destructive and inhumane acts conceivable. 

Our universities should be contributing to peace and justice, not suffering and death. 

Sign this petition now, to demand that UOW disclose and divest from its ties to Israel. 

How is UOW tied to the genocide in Palestine?

On the 19th of July 2024, the International Court of Justice declared that Israel's occupation of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank is illegal, and that Israel is in violation of the international prohibition on segregation and apartheid. In addition to this, the International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, and Yoav Gallant, the Minister of Defence of Israel, for War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity. 

The actions of Israel constitute violations of international law and are deeply morally corrupt; and UOW is complicit in this through its partnership with the defence industry, specifically pertaining to companies and organisations with direct ties to Israel, such as Bisalloy Steel, and weapons manufacturers BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin, and Thales, among others. 

Research collaborations.

UOW research, in partnership with the Defence Materials Technology Centre (DMTC), Bisalloy, and Blue Scope Steel, is used to produce and improve armoured steel. This steel is sold to Israeli weapons manufacturer Rafeal Advanced Defence Systems and Israeli vehicle manufacturer Plasan for use on armoured fighting vehicles and armoured cars. The IDF, Israeli police and West Bank settler militias use these vehicles to kill, maim, displace, and ethnically cleanse the people of Palestine. Through the DMTC, UOW also has connections to BAE Systems which produces components for the F35 combat aircraft employed in the current bombardment of Gaza. 
Hebrew University of Jerusalem works closely in partnership with the Israeli government to produce propaganda (Hasbara) which legitimises Israeli apartheid, land theft and war crimes. They have a well documented history of suppressing dissenting voices and academic freedom. The university hosts an IDF military base on campus, delivers military intelligence programs, produces military research, and allows the IDF to station snipers on the rooves of university buildings. Part of the university, including student accommodation in which exchange students are housed, is on an illegal settlement. (Information sourced from UOW Palestinian Liberation Zone, Mission Statement found here )

For more information, click here  for a comprehensive booklet on UOW's military links to Israel.

What can you do?

1. Sign this petition to demonstrate that UOW students and staff, as well as community members, are firmly opposed to UOW's links to genocide, and demand that it discloses and divests from Israel.
2. Join the movement fighting for disclosure and divestment at UOW: UOW Palestinian Liberation Zone: (@uowpalestinianliberationzone)Get in touch here to see how you can get involved.
3. Keep advocating and educating, and lean into community, not despair.