Oslo (TDI): Navanethem “Navi” Pillay, the former United Nations human rights chief who chaired a commission that concluded Israel had committed genocide in Gaza, has won the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to promote peace and international law.
Announcing the award on Friday, the Norwegian Nobel Committee praised Pillay for holding states and national leaders accountable and bringing hope to victims of violence and conflict.
Committee chair Jørgen Watne Frydnes said Pillay had played an important role in ensuring that war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide could be prosecuted.
The committee said her career reflected a consistent commitment to legal accountability, tracing her work from defending Nelson Mandela and others who opposed apartheid in South Africa to serving as a judge in major international cases.
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It also highlighted the significance of the award at a time when international legal institutions face mounting pressure. “At a time of existential challenges, including more wars and conflicts than the world has seen in a long time, international law is no longer just a supplement to peace and security. It is an absolute necessity,” Frydnes said.
Pillay previously chaired the United Nations Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which concluded that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza. Israel rejected the commission’s findings, describing its report as “scandalous.”
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The award recognizes Pillay’s longstanding work on international justice and accountability amid continuing disputes over the enforcement of international law in conflict zones.
