South African jurist Navi Pillay, 85, wins Nobel Peace Prize; Israel condemns it over her Gaza genocide finding

The former UN human rights chief and ICC judge was honored for promoting international law.

Pillay led the UN panel that found in September 2025 that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza. Israel's Foreign Ministry called it "the grotesque weaponization of an award to legitimize anti-Israel hatred." Trump has wanted the prize. He criticized the Nobel committee.

Also on the record:

Pillay is South Africa's 5th Nobel Peace Prize laureate (BBC).
Nobel chair Jørgen Watne Frydnes couldn't reach her in advance: "if you see a Norwegian number calling, please pick up."
Pillay, hearing the news: "If you clap a little bit more, I may share this prize with Trump."