UK Proposes Using Northern Ireland Peace Model to Disarm Hamas in Gaza

The United Kingdom has presented a proposal for the disarmament and demobilization of Hamas in Gaza, drawing inspiration from the framework used to achieve the Northern Ireland peace process and the Good Friday Agreement of 1998.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in London that the UK’s experience with the phased disarmament of paramilitary groups provides a practical model for stabilizing Gaza following the newly established ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

The plan signals a renewed British role in Middle Eastern diplomacy at a crucial time as global powers work to secure lasting peace and define Gaza’s political and security future.

Starmer pointed to the Northern Ireland process—built on negotiation, international oversight, and political reintegration—as proof that armed movements can be transitioned into civilian political actors, as seen with the Irish Republican Army (IRA).

Jonathan Powell, the UK National Security Adviser and a key architect of the original peace deal, is now directly involved in international talks on Gaza alongside American and regional envoys. The US Middle East envoy appointed by President Donald Trump welcomed Britain’s participation, describing Powell’s role as “essential to the sustainable implementation of the ceasefire.”

The proposal acknowledges the complexity of disarming Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2007. Still, UK officials believe their historical experience can help establish independent verification systems and foster trust for an eventual disarmament process.