UK proposes Northern Ireland model for disarming Hamas in Gaza

The United Kingdom has put forward a proposal for the disarmament and demobilization of Hamas in Gaza, suggesting the process be guided by the framework that successfully led to the Northern Ireland peace process and the Good Friday Agreement of 1998.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated in London that the UK’s experience in the gradual demobilisation of paramilitary groups offers a proven model for stabilising Gaza following the recently secured ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

This initiative represents a strong return for the UK to the Middle Eastern diplomatic scene, at a critical juncture where the international community is seeking to consolidate the truce and define the political and security future of the territory.

The context for this proposal is the ongoing effort to secure a sustainable peace after a US-brokered ceasefire between the warring parties. Disarming Hamas is a central component of this long-term peace plan.

The Northern Ireland model, which Starmer highlights, was based on negotiation, international verification, and political reintegration, steps that ultimately allowed armed groups like the Irish Republican Army (IRA) to transform into civilian political actors. This historical success, the Prime Minister argued, demonstrates that a diplomatic framework with security guarantees can achieve the necessary transformation of armed groups.

A key figure in this effort is Jonathan Powell, the UK National Security Adviser and former chief of staff to Tony Blair, who was a principal architect of the original Northern Ireland peace deal.

Powell is now actively involved in the international negotiations on Gaza alongside American and Middle Eastern envoys.

His presence underscores the UK’s commitment to sharing its expertise. The US envoy to the Middle East, appointed by President Donald Trump, publicly welcomed the British participation, calling Powell’s efforts “essential to the sustainable implementation of the ceasefire.”

The proposal acknowledges that a disarmament process for Hamas, which has governed Gaza since 2007, will be complex and challenging.

However, the UK sees its historical experience as vital in establishing the necessary independent mechanisms and building the trust required for the decommissioning of weapons to take place.