LONDON — Britain could assume a key role in efforts to disarm Hamas in Gaza, leveraging its experience in mediating the Northern Ireland peace process, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Tuesday. Speaking in parliament, Starmer emphasized that effective decommissioning in Gaza would be essential to maintaining President Donald Trump’s newly brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, the opening stage of the U.S. president’s 20‑point framework aimed at achieving lasting peace in the region.
Starmer’s national security adviser, Jonathan Powell, who played a pivotal role in negotiating the 1998 Good Friday Agreement that ended three decades of violence in Northern Ireland, is expected to contribute to discussions on Gaza’s disarmament roadmap. Former prime minister Tony Blair, who worked alongside Powell during the process, has also been mentioned as a potential participant in post‑ceasefire efforts.
Three European diplomats confirmed that the Northern Ireland model is being referenced in international talks as a possible framework for Gaza’s future disarmament, though no formal plan has yet been adopted.“Of course, this is going to be difficult, but it’s vital,” Starmer told lawmakers. “It was difficult in Northern Ireland in relation to the IRA, but it was vital. That is why we have said that we stand ready, based on our experience, to help with the decommissioning process.”While the Irish Republican Army never governed Northern Ireland, Hamas has controlled Gaza since 2007, overseeing all aspects of governance, a key distinction that analysts say will complicate any disarmament process.
Nevertheless, British officials maintain that monitored decommissioning and institutional restructuring could serve as a foundation for reconciliation. Powell attended an international summit on Gaza in Egypt on Monday alongside Starmer. Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, later thanked Powell publicly for his “incredible input and tireless efforts” in shaping the discussions. Israeli authorities continue to insist that any permanent settlement must include Hamas’s complete disarmament. President Trump has announced plans to create a “Board of Peace” to oversee Gaza’s governance structure and earlier suggested Blair could serve on it, though he later stated he would consult regional stakeholders before finalizing the appointment.