Home · World · Oct 12 archive
Navi Pillay Wins Nobel Peace Prize Amid International Backlash
Confirmed
In Short: The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to South African judge Navi Pillay for her work in promoting international law and prosecuting war crimes.
The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to South African judge Navi Pillay for her efforts to promote peace and international law, according to the Norwegian Nobel Committee, as reported by Arabnews (Saudi Arabia) and Timesofisrael (Israel). Both outlets noted that Pillay, 85, has spent her career defending international law and working against war crimes and crimes against humanity.
However, the award drew mixed reactions. Arabnews (Saudi Arabia) reported that Pillay dismissed Israel's rejection of the report's findings, which accused Israel of genocide in Gaza, while Timesofisrael (Israel) highlighted Israel's strong condemnation of the award, calling it a legitimization of 'anti-Israel hatred.'
Despite the controversy, both Arabnews (Saudi Arabia) and Timesofisrael (Israel) agreed that Pillay's work has been instrumental in ensuring that war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide are prosecuted. Arabnews (Saudi Arabia) noted that Pillay's report on Gaza named Israel's actions as genocide, while Timesofisrael (Israel) reported that Pillay's team had shared thousands of pieces of information with prosecutors at the International Criminal Court.
Pillay herself expressed cautious optimism about the award. Arabnews (Saudi Arabia) reported that she told the Associated Press she had to see the evidence of her win before she could believe the news, while Timesofisrael (Israel) noted that she dedicated her prize to 'all of the survivors of international crimes.'
The award also faced backlash from US President Donald Trump, who called the decision 'disgraceful,' according to AFP and Fox News. Arabnews (Saudi Arabia) reported that Pillay had sharp words for Trump, calling Washington’s attacks on the International Criminal Court 'completely unlawful' and 'negative and cruel.'
In a statement, the Norwegian Nobel Committee said Pillay had 'contributed to strengthen the institutions of international law,' as reported by The Guardian and Arabnews (Saudi Arabia). Both outlets noted that Pillay’s commitment to universal legal principles and her firm moral compass are constants in a long career.
The Guardian reported that Pillay’s work is a source of hope and inspiration to all those who seek to bring about a more peaceful world, while Arabnews (Saudi Arabia) highlighted that the award is a clear message to those putting pressure on international institutions.
Despite the controversy, Arabnews (Saudi Arabia) and Timesofisrael (Israel) agreed that Pillay’s work has been crucial in promoting international law and prosecuting war crimes, and that her award recognizes her significant contributions to the field.
The award also highlighted the ongoing challenges to international law, with Arabnews (Saudi Arabia) noting that Pillay’s independence, expertise, and steadfastness have made her one of the most respected international jurists of our time.
The Guardian reported that Pillay’s work has been a source of hope and inspiration, while Arabnews (Saudi Arabia) noted that the award is a clear message to those who are putting pressure on international institutions.
In conclusion, while the award faced significant backlash from Israel and the United States, Arabnews (Saudi Arabia) and Timesofisrael (Israel) agreed that Pillay’s work has been instrumental in promoting international law and prosecuting war crimes, and that her award recognizes her significant contributions to the field.
Background
The Nobel Committee highlighted Pillay’s independence, expertise, and steadfastness, noting her contributions to strengthening the institutions of international law.
The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to South African judge Navi Pillay for her work in promoting international law and prosecuting war crimes.
What's confirmed
- The Nobel Peace Prize awarded to judge and former UN rights chief Navi Pillay of South Africa drew backlash from US President Donald Trump, who called the decision "disgraceful".
- The 2026 Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to Navanethem “Navi” Pillay, the South African-born jurist and human rights activist, for her efforts to promote peace and international law.
- Pillay's work "is a source of hope and inspiration to all those who seek to bring about a more peaceful world," said Jørgen Watne Frydnes, chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, in announcing her win in Oslo, Norway, as part of the peace prize's 125th anniversary.
- "You know, you don't want to receive an award, prize or anything unless the public agrees that you deserve this." She later told a news conference that leaders have a "legal obligation to protect human rights and refrain from war." Pillay chaired the Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel, which was created by the U.N.-backed Human Rights Council.
- The Norwegian Nobel committee said Pillay, who is serving as a judge at the international court of justice (ICJ), has “shown that legal measures can help prevent acts of war and violence”.
- The announcement came just hours after former ICC judge Navi Pillay was awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to promote peace and international law.
- "Of course we have to discuss it, but it’s not like that influences the discussions in the room and decisions that come out," said Kristian Berg Harpviken, secretary of the Nobel committee, referring to external pressures.
- "The last thing I did was the report on Gaza naming what’s happening there as genocide," Pillay noted, emphasizing the importance of her recent work.
- Pillay, currently a judge on the International Court of Justice in a case where Myanmar also stands accused of genocide, has been “instrumental in ensuring that war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide are prosecuted,” said Jorgen Watne Frydnes, the chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee in Oslo.
- Pillay’s “independence, her expertise and steadfastness have made her one of the most respected international jurists of our time.” She reacted to the news by making a quip about US President Donald Trump’s well-documented desire to win the prize himself.
- “This is a clear message to those who are putting pressure on these institutions, to those who are sanctioning the judges and are attacking the institutions. That needs to stop,” Frydnes told AFP after the announcement.
- Pillay told AFP at the time that her team had shared “thousands of pieces of information” with prosecutors at the International Criminal Court.
What's still developing
- "Navi Pillay is indeed a world leader, an individual at the forefront of the international spread of the poisonous forms of antisemitism that beset the 21st century," Anne Bayefsky, president of Human Rights Voices and director of the Touro Institute on Human Rights, told Fox News Digital.
- Neuer pointed to a June 2020 manifesto that Pillay signed calling on governments to "Sanction Apartheid Israel," along with a June 2021 letter urging President Joe Biden to punish Israel after its conflict with Hamas.
- Characteristically, Navi immediately dedicated her prize to “all of the survivors of international crimes.” Let us hope that Navi’s deserved and inspired win galvanizes not only further interest in international law but respect for its application, not just sometimes in some places, but all times in all places.
- The Norwegian Nobel Institute said it had has registered a total of 287 candidates for this year’s peace prize, with politicians, international judges and professors among those who can put names forward.
- "This may help reset our national debate on South Africa’s position in the region, and in Africa," Pillay added, noting the significance of the award.
- Singaporean lawyer and diplomat Tommy Koh, 88, was recognized for promoting international dialogue and the rule of law.
- But his war against Iran, his territorial expansion ambitions as in Greenland, his hard line on migrants, and his attacks on multilateralism and the media have, according to experts in Oslo, disqualified him for the prize.
- Pillay headed the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry (COI), which does not speak on behalf of the world body, and which last year found that genocide was occurring in Gaza.
- Yasmin Sooka, a human rights lawyer and commissioner on both South Africa and Sierra Leone’s truth and reconciliation commissions, said Pillay “follows in the footsteps of Chief Albert Luthuli and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, carrying forward South Africa’s proud tradition of linking peace with justice and human dignity”.
- Last year’s award of the peace prize to the Venezuelan opposition leader, María Corina Machado, drew widespread criticism because of her calls for US military intervention in her country.
- Speaking on Friday after her standing ovation, Pillay noted that many had paid tribute to her courage in that report.
- Since returning to the White House in January 2025, Trump has made no secret of his desire to win the prize, insisting that he was the most deserving candidate and claiming to have ended up to eight wars.