The 2026 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Navi Pillay, a former United Nations’ top human rights official who led a commission that determined Israel had committed genocide against Palestinians, a finding the Israeli government rejected. Justice Pillay has been a judge on several international courts, including the International Criminal Court and ​the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. Key points and original sources are listed below.

• The 2026 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Navi Pillay, a former United Nations’ top human rights official who led a commission that determined Israel had committed genocide against Palestinians, a finding the Israeli government rejected.S1

• Justice Pillay has been a judge on several international courts, including the International Criminal Court and ​the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda.S2

• Navi Pillay wins Nobel Peace Prize drawing praise and Israels angerS3

• Navi Pillay wins Nobel Peace Prize for defending international lawS4

• The 85-year-old South African judge has spent decades fighting apartheid and genocide.S5

• DUT and UKZN celebrate Judge Navi Pillay’s 2026 Nobel Peace Prize winS6

• The committee said Pillay's award was a message to those seeking to undermine 'the international rules-based system and the institutions.'S7

• South African jurist Navi Pillay was awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize for decades of rights work, promoting peace and advancing accountability.S8