Navi Pillay, former UN human rights chief, wins 2026 Nobel Peace Prize

The Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize to South African judge Navi Pillay for her work promoting peace and international law.

• The Norwegian Nobel Committee announced on Friday that Pillay, 85, is the fifth South African to win the prize.
• The committee cited her work prosecuting war crimes and genocide, including presiding over the Rwanda genocide tribunal.
• Pillay dedicated the award to survivors of international crimes and said the International Criminal Court faces a systematic campaign by Donald Trump.
• Israel's Foreign Ministry condemned the award, citing Pillay's role leading a UN inquiry that concluded Israel committed genocide in Gaza.
• The International Criminal Court welcomed the award to its former judge, saying it honors international justice as a fundamental pillar of lasting peace.
• The Norwegian Nobel Committee framed the award as a reminder that the rule of law underpins peace amid attacks on international legal institutions.
• Shortly after the award, the Trump administration announced fresh sanctions on the International Criminal Court, which condemned the move.
• Israel's Foreign Ministry accused Pillay of leading campaigns to defame Israel and said her promotion of the genocide lie exploits the award to justify hatred.
• The Palestinian Foreign Ministry welcomed the award, praising it as recognition of Pillay's dedication to peace and international law.
• US President Donald Trump shared a Truth Social post Friday calling the Nobel Committee's decision to award Pillay the prize an insult to the award.
• The post, attributed to a US law firm, accused Pillay of hostility to the US and Israel, rewarding Hamas, and dismissed her Gaza genocide investigation as fraudulent.
• The post praised Trump's record, citing the Abraham Accords, hostage-release efforts, ending the Russia-Ukraine war, and Gaza reconstruction.