Hamas Praises Nobel Laureate Pillay, Israel's UN Envoy Cites Outrage
Translated & summarized from Ice by baba
Hamas praised Navanethem Pillay, the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, calling her award a step towards international justice and recognition of alleged Israeli "crimes." Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon reacted with outrage, stating Hamas's congratulations reflect poorly on Pillay and the committee. Pillay previously chaired a UN commission that accused Israel of genocide in Gaza, a charge Israel denies. Criticism of Pillay's past stances against Israel dates back to her time as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Hamas praised Nobel Peace Prize laureate Navanethem Pillay, calling her award a step towards international justice.
- Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon stated Hamas's congratulations reflect poorly on Pillay and the prize committee.
- Pillay previously chaired a UN commission that accused Israel of genocide in Gaza.
- Israel vehemently rejected the genocide accusations made by the commission Pillay led.
- Pillay has a history of criticizing Israeli policies, dating back to her UN Human Rights Commissioner tenure.
- Over 100 U.S. Congress members criticized the UN Human Rights Council's bias against Israel in 2014.
Hamas issued a statement praising Navanethem Pillay, the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, hailing her work on human rights and her stances on Israel and the Gaza conflict. The terror group stated that awarding the prize to Pillay, a South African human rights activist and judge, represents a "crucial step towards international justice and new international recognition of the crimes committed by the occupation against our Palestinian people." Hamas also referenced Pillay's role as chair of a UN commission that published a report in September 2025 accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza. The organization urged the international community to take legal action against those responsible.
Pillay's selection has drawn criticism due to her past role as chair of an independent UN commission of inquiry on the Palestinian territories and Israel. In 2025, the commission she led accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza with the stated aim of "destroying the Palestinians," an accusation Israel vehemently rejected. Pillay herself stated at the time that there was "intent to destroy the Palestinians in Gaza through acts that meet the criteria of the Genocide Convention."
Criticism of Pillay from Israeli and American circles is not new. During her tenure as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights from 2008 to 2014, she frequently criticized Israeli policies. In 2014, over 100 members of the U.S. Congress signed a letter criticizing what they described as the UN Human Rights Council's one-sided bias against Israel, arguing the body focused on Israel while ignoring Hamas's terror activities.
Israel's Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, shared Hamas's statement on X (formerly Twitter), commenting, "When the terror organization Hamas congratulates the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, Navanethem Pillay, it says everything about the winner and the prize committee."
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