Judge Navi Pillay, a towering figure in international justice, has once again made headlines with her groundbreaking work on the UN Commission of Inquiry into the occupied Palestinian territories. In an exclusive interview with Middle East Eye’s Expert Witness podcast, Pillay detailed the Commission’s findings that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, drawing on her extensive legal expertise and historical precedents from her tenure at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR).
The Commission’s report, released on October 6, 2025, meticulously analyzed Israel’s actions from October 7, 2023, to July 31, 2025, concluding that four out of the five underlying acts of genocide, as defined by the Genocide Convention, had been committed. These acts include the killing of Palestinians, causing severe physical and mental harm, imposing life-destroying conditions, and preventing births within the group. The report also highlighted the genocidal intent demonstrated by Israeli leaders’ statements and the systematic destruction of Gaza’s cultural, educational, and healthcare infrastructure.
Pillay emphasized the parallels between the current situation in Gaza and the ICTR’s landmark Akayesu case, which established that sexual violence could constitute genocide. She noted that the widespread gender-based violence in Gaza serves as both individual punishment and a collective strategy to humiliate and subjugate the Palestinian population.
The interview also addressed the international community’s failure to act, with Pillay criticizing the UK and US for their complicity through arms sales and sanctions against ICC officials. She called for immediate action to prevent further atrocities and urged states to fulfill their obligations under the Genocide Convention.
Pillay’s career, spanning over six decades, has been marked by her unwavering commitment to justice and human rights. From her early days challenging apartheid in South Africa to her pivotal role in shaping international jurisprudence, she remains a beacon of hope for those seeking accountability and justice on the global stage.