South African jurist Navi Pillay has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her work in international law. The Norwegian Nobel Committee said her career showed how legal action could help prevent war and violence.
Pillay, a former UN human rights chief who is serving as a judge at the International Court of Justice, chaired a UN inquiry into the occupied Palestinian territory. The committee also cited her work defending Nelson Mandela during apartheid and her service on an international criminal tribunal.
The UN inquiry concluded that Israel had committed genocidal acts in Gaza. It also accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog and former defence minister Yoav Gallant of inciting genocide. Israel rejected the inquiry’s findings and said the commission was biased.
Israel’s foreign ministry criticised the prize on Friday, accusing Pillay of spreading falsehoods and prejudice against Israel.
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