South African jurist Navi Pillay, who led a United Nations (UN) panel that concluded Israel committed genocide in Gaza, was awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, October 9. The announcement immediately drew strong condemnation from Israel and new sanctions from the United States against the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The Norwegian Nobel Committee, in announcing the award, warned that international law was under “tremendous pressure” and its institutions were “under attack.” Speaking at a legal conference in Nuremberg, Germany, Pillay highlighted the Gaza report as her most recent work, stating, “Why would you need courage to speak the truth?”
Israel’s strong criticism and US sanctions
Israel’s Foreign Ministry vehemently criticised the decision to award Pillay the Nobel Peace Prize, calling it “not a recognition of justice. It’s the grotesque weaponization of an award to legitimize anti-Israel hatred and prejudice.” The ministry even invoked Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbels, stating, “Joseph Goebbels is certainly applauding from hell.” Israel has consistently claimed that the United Nations and other international bodies are biased against it.
Hours after the Nobel Prize announcement, the United States imposed sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC). The US Treasury Department added the entire court to its Specially Designated Nationals list, which will impose financial penalties on any entity doing business with the ICC. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio made it clear that the Trump administration was prepared to go even further to defend US sovereignty and neutralise the perceived threat from the ICC.
Allegations of genocide in Gaza and Pillay’s report
Pillay chaired a three-member expert panel commissioned by the UN Human Rights Council, which concluded in September 2025 that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza. The 22-page report cited the death toll, Israeli restrictions on humanitarian aid leading to widespread hunger, the “systematic destruction” of the healthcare system, the direct targeting of children, and “explicit statements” of intent by Israeli civilian and military authorities. Human rights groups and many genocide experts have reached similar conclusions.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed over 74,000 Palestinians. Israel has consistently denied these allegations, dismissing them as an “antisemitic blood libel.” The Israeli military maintains it takes extraordinary measures to prevent harm to civilians and attributes civilian deaths to Hamas, which it claims operates in densely populated areas.
International legal scrutiny of Israel
The International Court of Justice (ICJ), the UN’s top court, is currently investigating genocide allegations against Israel brought by South Africa. Pillay currently serves as an ad hoc judge in the ICJ’s ongoing genocide case against Myanmar. Separately, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants in 2024 for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel has refused to cooperate with the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel, which was established after the 2021 Israel-Hamas war. Israel has pointed to the presence of notoriously repressive countries on the 47-member Human Rights Council, accusing it of relentlessly singling out Israel while ignoring violations elsewhere.
Nepal’s ties with Israel
Opportunities for Nepali workers in Israel are expanding. According to an official notice from Nepal’s Department of Foreign Employment, the monthly salary for the Israel-Nepal G2G caregiver program is NIS 6,443.65 (approximately Rs 348,000 at mid-2026 exchange rates). While Israel opened applications for 2,300 caregiver positions, only 1,115 candidates passed the English language proficiency test. The Population and Immigration Authority (PIBA) of Israel has sent a priority list of these 1,115 Nepali workers to Nepal’s Department of Foreign Employment. Israel is seeking 1,464 Nepali workers (1,132 women and 332 men) to work as caregivers in long-term care facilities.
Impact of US sanctions and ICC’s stance
The US sanctions aim to isolate the ICC from the global financial system and threaten to penalise countries that conduct business with the court. These sanctions were issued with a six-month grace period, during which companies doing business with the court are expected to cease operations. The ICC, however, has stated that it will continue to fulfil its mandate with independence and impartiality.
