Israel Slams Nobel Peace Prize Award to UN Official Accusing It of Genocide

Israel's Foreign Ministry has strongly condemned the Nobel Committee's decision to award the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize to Navi Pillay, an 85-year-old South African jurist and head of a UN commission that previously accused Israel of genocide in Gaza. The ministry called the award an "endorsement of lies" and a "reward for falsehoods," stating that it attempts to legitimize accusations against Israel and is part of a political campaign to demonize the Jewish state.

Pillay, recognized for her lifelong work in international law and human rights, was honored for her consistent efforts against human rights violations. However, her leadership of the UN commission, which published a 72-page report in 2025 alleging that Israel's actions in Gaza showed signs of genocide and accusing Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, of incitement, has made her selection highly controversial. Israel has vehemently rejected these accusations, deeming the commission's findings politically motivated and based on unreliable information.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry stated on social media platform X that Pillay has spent years spreading false accusations against the country. They asserted that awarding her the Peace Prize does not signify recognition of justice or objectivity, but rather an attempt to use the Nobel Prize's authority to legitimize prejudice and hatred towards Israel. The ministry concluded its statement by suggesting that Joseph Goebbels, the Nazi propaganda minister, would be applauding from hell.

Pillay, born in South Africa during apartheid, has a background in international tribunals, including the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and the International Criminal Court. She also served as the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights before heading the commission investigating alleged violations of international law in the Palestinian territories. The commission's report cited the scale of civilian deaths, restrictions on humanitarian aid, and infrastructure destruction in Gaza, as well as statements by Israeli politicians like Netanyahu, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and current Defense Minister Israel Katz, as evidence supporting its genocide allegations.

Israel has refused to cooperate with Pillay's commission, viewing its investigation as biased and politically driven. A Foreign Ministry representative previously accused the commission of spreading Hamas claims and not reflecting the realities of the war. Israel's diplomatic mission in Geneva has repeatedly criticized the investigation for its political orientation and lack of objectivity.