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Palestine hails Navi Pillay’s 2026 Nobel Peace Prize
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed South African jurist Navi Pillay being awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize. The ministry praised Pillay’s work on international law, justice and documenting violations in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Palestine congratulates Pillay
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed South African jurist Navi Pillay being awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize. The ministry said the award recognized efforts to defend international law and the rights of the oppressed.
The ministry described Pillay’s award as a raising of “the voice of truth and the oppressed” and said the jurist had contributed to advancing peace and international law. It said Pillay had dedicated her career to defending the principles of law and justice and had protected the rights of oppressed people in South Africa and other parts of the world.
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said this work also covered the rights of Palestinians. The ministry stressed that, in addition to defending international law, Pillay had contributed to documenting violations in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Inquiry commission on the Palestinian territories
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also praised Pillay’s chairing, from 2021 to 2025, of the United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel.
The ministry said the commission had contributed to documenting genocide, sexual violence, attacks on children and other violations attributed to Israel. It said the Nobel Prize represented recognition for defenders of international law and justice.
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the award encouraged efforts to hold accountable those accused of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. The ministry stressed that lasting peace would not be possible without justice and equality for everyone.
The Nobel Committee’s rationale
The Norwegian Nobel Committee announced that the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to 85-year-old Pillay for her work to advance peace and international law. The committee said Pillay had expanded the scope and impact of international law through her roles at international courts and her work as United Nations high commissioner for human rights.
Born in Durban to a family of Indian Tamil origin during the apartheid era, Pillay began her legal career by fighting racial discrimination and defending people who opposed the apartheid system.
In addition to serving as United Nations high commissioner for human rights, Pillay was a judge at the International Criminal Court and presided over the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. She also served as an ad hoc judge at the International Court of Justice.
The United Nations commission chaired by Pillay concluded in a 2025 report that Israel had committed genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Israel rejected the finding.
The Nobel Peace Prize is scheduled to be presented in Oslo on December 10, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death.
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