Protest at Thales offices: No explosive exports for genocide

Tell the Albanese government, Thales and CMA-CGM: Stop arming Israel

Stop the War on Palestine will protest at the offices of Thales Australia on October 31 to tell the Albanese government, Thales Australia and shipping company CMA-CGM to stop arming Israel and end explosives exports for genocide.

The action will coincide with the Europe and Mediterranean dockworkers day of action against war and genocide, where unions from seven countries will strike and protest on October 30. Their action has been endorsed by Palestinian trade unions.

As unions in Europe and North Africa are standing against genocide and their own governments’ complicity, we will do the same here.

The world has been shocked by updated Google Maps images that show the absolute, genocidal erasure of an entire society in Gaza.

The Albanese government is helping Israel and Trump do this criminal work.

Thales Australia is exporting nitrocellulose explosives made in NSW to a US factory that arms Israel, aiding that very destruction.

This is just the latest case that exposes that the Albanese government is lying when it claims it is not arming Israel.

Commercially available US import data shows that, between 11/11/2023 and 04/10/2025 alone, Thales Australia has exported at least 191.5 tons of nitrocellulose explosives to General Dynamics OTS (GD OTS), who make 155mm artillery shells and propellants, tank ammunition, mortar and small arms rounds provided to Israel.

Thales Australia is also certified to supply TNT high explosives to the US military. Trump has just authorised the sale of 40,000 bombs to Israel, which weigh 2000 pounds each. They are filled with TNT.

Stop the War on Palestine unearthed this information following an article about the explosives exports published by Dave Milner from The Shot.

St. Marks Powder, the listed buyer of the nitrocellulose, is a subsidiary of GD-OTS and makes ‘ball powder’ propellant, used for 155mm artillery shells, tank ammunition, 120mm mortars and small arms rounds supplied to Israel via the US military.

US government documents show St. Marks Powder provides the propellant to launch 155mm shells. These charges are provided to Israel to fire the shells that Israeli leaders, like war criminal Isaac Herzog, sign before they are fired on Palestinians.

In June 2025 the US government reported allocating $783 million to replenish Israel’s stocks. The US have also supplied Israel with 50,400 120mm mortars that rely on St. Marks Powder.

From October 2024 onwards, the explosives were transported from Australia to the US on a route and vessels operated by French shipping company CMA-CGM.

US military documents list Thales Australia as one of only three certified suppliers of TNT to the US military for 155mm artillery shells that are provided to Israel in huge numbers.

The Thales explosives exports must end now and Israel must face comprehensive sanctions.