Navi Pillay named 2026 Nobel Peace Prize winner amid Israeli criticism

The Nobel committee awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize on Oct 9 to former International Criminal Court judge Navi Pillay, honoring her decades of work advancing international justice and human rights.

Pillay built her career defending vulnerable groups during South Africa’s apartheid era before taking a seat on the International Criminal Court. She later led the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights office. Her most lasting legal contribution helped shape the Akayesu judgment, a landmark ruling that first recognized rape and sexual violence as weapons of war under international law.

The announcement quickly sparked backlash from Israel. Israeli officials condemned the selection because Pillay previously chaired a UN inquiry that concluded Israel committed genocide in Gaza.

Legal experts and former colleagues defended the decision. Dire Tladi, a South African judge on the International Court of Justice who currently works alongside Pillay on the Gambia v Myanmar case, praised the award. “I am extremely pleased for Navi and very proud of her. This is absolutely well deserved for a lifetime dedicated to making the world a better place,” Tladi said. Yasmin Sooka, a human rights lawyer who served on truth commissions in South Africa and Sierra Leone, echoed that sentiment. “I cannot think of anyone more deserving of this extraordinary honour,” Sooka said. Experts note that Pillay’s early rulings fundamentally shifted international law to place survivors at the center of justice.