Hamas will eventually be regarded as a partner for peace in the Middle East, Michelle O’Neill, the new First Minister of Northern Ireland, has said.

The Sinn Fein vice president said the example of the Northern Ireland peace process proved how important dialogue was in ending conflict during an interview with Andrew Marr on LBC radio.

Ms O’Neill also called for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war and declared Gaza a “graveyard for children”, adding “let it not be the graveyard for international law”.

Mr Marr asked Ms O’Neill: “A long time ago, the IRA was seen as a terrorist organisation that the British government and everybody else could not ever talk to. And yet we know what followed from that. Do you think that Hamas, although regarded as a terrorist organisation by many people around the world, are going to be eventually a partner for peace, have to be a partner for peace?”

To which she replied: “Yes, I think you only have to look to our own example, to know that how important dialogue is, and it is the only way you’re going to ever bring an end to conflict.

“If the British government didn’t talk to republicans or republicans didn’t talk to the British government in the past, in Ireland, we would not be in the scenario that we are in today enjoying a peaceful and far more equal society.”

‘Ceasefire now’

She added, “So, what we need to see in the Middle East, in particular, in relation to Palestine is that we need to see a ceasefire now. And we need the international community, to be singing in chorus and harmony in terms of ceasefire now.”

Sinn Fein has historically been supportive of Palestine, drawing parallels to their struggle with a larger, occupying power and the struggle for independence.

Gerry Adams, the party’s former leader, met with Hamas officials in 2009 in spite of Israeli demands.

After the Oct 7 attacks by Hamas, which killed 1,139 people, some Sinn Fein representatives in the Republic of Ireland were criticised for expressing solidarity for Palestine without condemning the militant group.

Mary Lou McDonald, the Sinn Fein president, eventually condemned the attack and hostage-taking “outright”.

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, the DUP leader, has suggested the UK could “step forward” and use the experience of the Troubles to end the Middle East conflict, but Palestinian groups would have to forswear violence first.

Israeli right to defend itself

“Israel has the right to defend itself. And we will defend that right,” Sir Jeffrey, told the Telegraph in October 2023. “But ultimately, our experience in Northern Ireland is that people feel more secure when there is peace.

“When we had thousands of troops on the streets of Belfast and the rest of Northern Ireland, when we had fortified military installations, I didn’t feel safer than I do today,”

The Good Friday Agreement brought an end to the Troubles 26 years ago.

Ms O’Neill was in Britain for the first time since taking up the role of first minister at the weekend after the Northern Ireland Assembly was restored.

The DUP ended its two year boycott of Stormont over post-Brexit trading arrangements, which meant Ms O’Neill could take the post after winning elections in May 2022.

She is the first nationalist to be first minister, which has raised expectations of a referendum on Irish unity.

Ms McDonald said she expected a border poll on reunification in six years and by 2030. She said a united Ireland was within touching distance, which led Sir Jeffrey to declare she must have “the longest arms” on the island.

Chris Heaton-Harris, the secretary of state for Northern Ireland, said he didn’t expect a border poll in his lifetime.

Under the Good Friday Agreement, he must call the vote if it “appears likely” a majority would support a united Ireland.

‘Certainties of the past are gone’

Polls have shown 51 per cent of people in Northern Ireland would choose to stay in the UK, with just 30 per cent preferring a united Ireland.

But Ms O’Neill accused Mr Heaton-Harris of sticking his head in the sand when she was interviewed on Good Morning Britain on Thursday.

“All the certainties of the past are gone. My election does speak to the change that’s happening. I think that’s a bit of an ostrich mentality, sticking your head in the sand and refusing to see what’s happening all around you,” she said.

She added she was “surprised” Rishi Sunak gave her a hug when the two met at Stormont on Monday but said: “The world needs more hugs, let’s be real.”