Hamas Praises Peace Prize Award to Navi Pillay, Israel Condemns

Hamas has welcomed the awarding of a peace prize to Navi Pillay, the former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, calling it a significant step towards justice and international recognition of accusations against Israel. The terrorist organization stated that the award is further evidence of international acknowledgment of "crimes committed by Israel against the Palestinian people." Pillay, 85, learned of the award while attending a forum in Nuremberg. She previously headed a UN Human Rights Council commission that investigated the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories and Israel, concluding a year ago that Israel bears responsibility for genocide in Gaza. Her commission had also examined actions by Israeli leadership, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, concerning accusations of incitement to genocide.

The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs sharply condemned the award, suggesting Pillay would be a top contender for a prize for lies and slander. The ministry characterized the award as a "grotesque use of the prize as a weapon to legitimize anti-Israeli hatred and prejudice," rather than a recognition of justice. The announcement of the laureate comes less than three weeks before Israeli elections.