Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has welcomed the announcement that Hamas will disarm, describing the development as an opportunity to advance the wider plan for peace in Gaza.
However, Miliband made clear that disarmament must form part of the full implementation of the US-backed 20-Point Plan, including the withdrawal of Israeli forces, compliance with the ceasefire and the removal of restrictions preventing humanitarian aid from reaching civilians.
A Potential Breakthrough in the Gaza Negotiations
US President Donald Trump announced that an agreement had been reached for Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza to relinquish their weapons through a phased process. The proposals would also provide for a gradual Israeli military withdrawal, an international stabilisation force and Palestinian policing arrangements.
Hamas has confirmed its acceptance of a disarmament roadmap, but its representatives have said implementation remains conditional on Israel ending military action and meeting its commitments to withdraw from Gaza.
Israeli officials have expressed reservations about the proposed sequence, maintaining that Hamas must be genuinely disarmed before Israeli forces withdraw. That disagreement means the announcement represents a potentially significant diplomatic breakthrough, rather than a completed peace settlement.
Ed Miliband's Statement in Full
STATEMENT ON GAZA
31 July 2026
I welcome the announcement that Hamas will disarm.
The focus must now be on implementing the 20-Point Plan in full. This includes the withdrawal of the IDF from Gaza, and respect for the ceasefire by all parties.
Conditions for the people of Gaza remain appalling. Israel must immediately end the unacceptable restrictions on aid so that more food, medicine and support can reach those who need it.
The UK will keep working with all our partners as we seek to end the conflict in Gaza, and the terror threat from Hamas.
We must reach a viable peace - with the Palestinian State and State of Israel living securely side-by-side.
We thank the US, together with Qatar, Türkiye and Egypt, for their tireless efforts to progress these crucial negotiations.
ED MILIBAND
FOREIGN SECRETARY
What Happens Next?
The immediate challenge will be agreeing the order and verification of the promised steps. Under the proposals, Hamas weapons would be surrendered or decommissioned under international supervision while security responsibilities are transferred to a Palestinian administration, supported by an international stabilisation force and newly trained Palestinian police.
Israeli withdrawal, continuing observance of the ceasefire and substantially improved humanitarian access will be crucial to whether the agreement progresses. The UK has previously offered technical expertise to support the decommissioning of Hamas weapons and practical assistance for the transitional Palestinian administration.
Miliband's intervention also places the latest negotiations within the UK's continuing support for a two-state solution, with a secure Israel alongside a viable Palestinian state. The announcement has created a possible route forward, but its success will depend on both sides carrying out commitments that remain politically and practically difficult.
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