Gaza truce must be maintained, peace would benefit region: IMF

International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva on Thursday urged all parties to continue moving in the direction of a sustained lasting peace following a ceasefire in Gaza, saying it would benefit the entire region.

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Georgieva, speaking during the annual meetings of the IMF and World Bank in Washington, said she was relieved when the recent ceasefire was reached for the sake of all the people affected by the two-year war in the Palestinian enclave.

She said lowered tensions would be good news for the economies of Egypt and Jordan, where the IMF has programmes, and Lebanon and Syria, which have asked for help and support from the global lender. “It is important because everybody concerned encourages this direction of sustaining a lasting peace, and yes, it would benefit the region,” she said. “There will be a peace dividend for everybody.”

Earlier, Israel said it was preparing for the reopening of Gaza’s Rafah crossing with Egypt to let Palestinians in and out, but set no date as it traded blame with Hamas over violations of a US-mediated ceasefire.

Italian news agency ANSA quoted Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar as saying Rafah will probably be reopened on Sunday.