The Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to Judge Navi Pillay, provoking divided reactions: representatives of international organizations praised the choice as support for judicial institutions, while Israel condemned the selection as grotesque.
Hakon Gjerlov, Executive Director of the Peace Research Institute Oslo, said the award sends a “strong message of support to international courts and judges who face pressure from political actors” and described Pillay as “very brave,” highlighting her work in punishing war crimes and genocide.
Pillay received news of the award in Nuremberg and responded with a joke, but also commented on the assessment of her courage: “One of the main reactions is that this is a tribute to my courage. Why would you need courage to speak the truth? You interpret the law, review the facts. So, it is about impartial decision-making.”
In the Committee’s explanation of the selection, the context of her work was preserved: Pillay chaired a UN commission which in September 2025 concluded that the actions of Israeli authorities against Palestinians in Gaza meet the criteria for genocide, and the report also accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of incitement to genocide.
The Israeli foreign minister criticized the awarding of the prize and wrote on the “X” network: “Awarding Pillay the Nobel Peace Prize is not a recognition of justice. It is a grotesque use of the prize as a weapon to legitimize hatred and prejudice against Israel.”
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