Britain Proposes Northern Ireland as Model for Gaza Disarmament — Starmer Supports Trump’s Peace Plan

Britain Proposes Northern Ireland as a Model for Gaza Disarmament

London — The United Kingdom has proposed using Northern Ireland’s peaceful disarmament process as a potential model for Gaza, aiming to assist in the disarmament of Hamas. Prime Minister Keir Starmer told Parliament that if President Donald Trump’s ceasefire plan remains in effect, disarmament in Gaza will be a crucial next step toward lasting peace.

Starmer explained that the 1998 Good Friday Agreement played a historic role in resolving Northern Ireland’s conflict. He praised Jonathan Powell, who as an adviser, developed a step-by-step strategy that encouraged both soldiers and militant groups to surrender their weapons peacefully. The Prime Minister said that, based on this experience, London could offer technical and diplomatic support for Gaza’s decommissioning process, though he admitted that implementing such a plan would be far more complex.

Starmer noted the significant difference between Northern Ireland and Gaza. In Northern Ireland, the IRA never held government power, whereas Hamas governs Gaza, which makes the disarmament process far more challenging. He acknowledged that in Northern Ireland, the partial disarmament process took place through multiple monitored phases, with international observers ensuring neutrality and transparency.

Britain’s proposal comes in the context of Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan, which includes a permanent ceasefire followed by the complete disarmament of Hamas. Trump also proposed creating a “Board of Peace”, a consultative body to oversee Gaza’s administration, with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair being considered as a potential member.

European diplomats have also pointed to the Northern Ireland model as a possible framework for Gaza’s transition toward peace, though they emphasized that no formal or comprehensive plan has yet been finalized.

The Northern Ireland model was based on several key principles: neutral monitoring, partial disarmament, prisoner release, and broad security reforms. However, Gaza’s situation is far more complex, as Hamas controls both governance and security, leaving little space for external enforcement.

Key challenges include:

Possible administrative vacuum if Hamas’s weapons are surrendered or seized.

The need for credible, neutral international monitors to prevent violations.

Political and military resistance from groups unwilling to disarm.

The risk of regional interference and geopolitical pressure.

Experts say that if Britain supports this initiative and takes part in the mediation process, it could play a major role in establishing long-term peace in Gaza. If implemented effectively, the Northern Ireland model could provide a new path for strengthening the Gaza ceasefire. For now, however, it remains a conceptual proposal — but one that reflects the world’s growing interest in transferring peaceful conflict-resolution models from one region to another.