UK proposes Northern Ireland’s IRA model for Hamas disarmament

United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said his country could take a leading role in helping to disarm Hamas, based on its experience encouraging IRA militants to lay down their arms in Northern Ireland.

Starmer told parliament that the disarmament of the region is vital for the continuation of the ceasefire brokered by Donald Trump between Israel and Hamas.

This ceasefire is the first phase of a 20-point framework prepared by the US president to bring peace to the Palestinian region.

Starmer’s national security adviser, Jonathan Powell, was the chief architect of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, which largely ended 30 years of conflict in Northern Ireland, and had worked with former Prime Minister Tony Blair, who is expected to play a role in Gaza.

According to Reuters, three European diplomats also said that while a comprehensive plan is not yet ready, the Northern Ireland example is being cited as a possible future model for Gaza.

Starmer said, “Of course, this will be difficult, but it is vital. It was difficult with the IRA [Irish Republican Army] in Northern Ireland, but it was vital. Therefore, based on our experience in Northern Ireland, we have said that we are ready to help with the disarmament process. I will not claim it is easy, but it is extremely important.”

The IRA, which aimed for a united Ireland and fought against British rule, announced in 2005 that it would formally end its armed resistance.

Refusing to destroy its weapons in public view, the IRA accepted the presence of independent observers and announced three months later that it had put its weapons beyond use.

The Good Friday Agreement had addressed everything from police reform and the early release of paramilitary prisoners to the disarmament of paramilitary groups and the “normalization” of security arrangements.

However, unlike Hamas, which has controlled Gaza since 2007 and oversees all sectors of public life, the IRA never governed Northern Ireland.

Powell was in Egypt on Monday with Starmer for an international summit on Gaza. According to the BBC, Powell was also there last week as negotiations were being finalized.

Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, thanked Powell on Monday for his “incredible contributions and tireless efforts.”

Israel says a final agreement in Gaza must permanently disarm Hamas.

Trump also said he would establish a “Peace Board” to oversee the governance of Gaza. He had initially suggested that Blair would serve on this board but said on Sunday that he needed to find out if this would be an “acceptable choice for everyone.”