Nobel Peace Prize awarded to former ICC judge Navanethem "Navi" Pillay

Nobel Peace Prize 2026 was awarded to Navanethem “Navi” Pillay, a former judge on the International Criminal Court, drawing a quick, angry rebuke from Israel.

The Nobel Peace Prize for 2026 was awarded Friday to Navanethem "Navi" Pillay, a South African-born former judge with the International Criminal Court who went on to become the United Nations human rights chief and is still serving with the U.N.'s other judicial body, the International Court of Justice. She also led a U.N. inquiry last year that accused Israel of genocide in the Gaza Strip, and Israel was quick to condemn her receiving the honor on Friday. The Nobel Committee said it was honoring Pillay "for her efforts to promote peace and international law," and that awarding the prize to someone with her body of work on international justice was a message to those seeking to undermine international law institutions.The South African-born former United Nations human rights chief, who is 85, was recognized for her efforts to promote peace and international law, said Jørgen Watne Frydnes, chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee."This is definitely a message to those who are undermining the international system and institutions," Frydnes said.

"The system of international law is under tremendous pressure and its institutions are under attack," he said, noting what the committee saw as a shift "towards power politics at the expense of legal frameworks and global respect for law and justice." The International Criminal Court (ICC) has come under fire from