IMF Responds Positively to Tunisia’s Request for Funding Program

International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva. (Reuters)
International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva. (Reuters)
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IMF Responds Positively to Tunisia’s Request for Funding Program

International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva. (Reuters)
International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva. (Reuters)

Tunisian authorities received a letter from International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva that included the acknowledgment that Tunis will remain a reliable partner.

Tunisian government sources said that the IMF welcomed the reform package, which was discussed between the government and labor union.

They indicated that the program that the IMF will discuss must guarantee the stability of the Tunisian economy in the near future coupled with sustainable growth.

According to the correspondence, the fund stressed it is fundamental to tackle the problem of sustainability of public finances and debt, implementing ambitious reforms of public companies, salaries of the public administration and energy subsidies. It called for addressing the entrepreneurial climate, stability of the financial sector and financial inclusion, social protection and governance.

Tunisian economist, Mohsen Hassan believes the IMF would react positively to the government's demand to finance its economic program, which will not be affected by the political and economic crisis.

He stressed the possibility of agreeing on a new economic program that would enable the mobilization of the necessary financial resources to protect the country from bankruptcy and chaos.

On Sunday, the IMF stated that Tunisia formally requested a new financing program, lauding the efforts of the government’s talks with the Tunisian General Labor Union (UGTT) on subsidies, taxes and state institutions.

Georgieva said she would assign a delegation to conduct technical talks as soon as she receives more information about the reform program.

Tunisia’s economic program addresses six main issues: liberalization of the economy and an improvement of the entrepreneurial climate, improvement of the fiscal system, reform of the public function, the transformation of public companies and a program of investments to revive the economy.

Tunisia reported a budget deficit of TD18.5 billion, according to preliminary estimates, however, a number of economists believe it will increase to 21.5 billion this year.



Israeli Officials Signal They Want UN to Remain Key Gaza Aid Channel, Says Senior UN Official

 Buildings that were destroyed during the Israeli ground and air operations stand in northern of Gaza Strip as seen from southern Israel, Thursday, July 10, 2025. (AP)
Buildings that were destroyed during the Israeli ground and air operations stand in northern of Gaza Strip as seen from southern Israel, Thursday, July 10, 2025. (AP)
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Israeli Officials Signal They Want UN to Remain Key Gaza Aid Channel, Says Senior UN Official

 Buildings that were destroyed during the Israeli ground and air operations stand in northern of Gaza Strip as seen from southern Israel, Thursday, July 10, 2025. (AP)
Buildings that were destroyed during the Israeli ground and air operations stand in northern of Gaza Strip as seen from southern Israel, Thursday, July 10, 2025. (AP)

Israeli officials have signaled they want the United Nations to remain the key avenue for humanitarian deliveries in Gaza, the deputy head of the World Food Program said on Friday, noting the work of a controversial US aid group was not discussed.

"They wanted the UN to continue to be the main track for delivery, especially should there be a cease fire, and they asked us to be ready to scale up," Carl Skau, deputy executive director of the UN food agency, told reporters on Friday after visiting Gaza and Israel last week.

The US, Egypt and Qatar are trying to broker a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza.

Hamas said on Wednesday that the flow of aid was one of the sticking points.

Israel and the United States have publicly urged the UN to work through the new Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, but the UN has refused, questioning the group's neutrality and accusing the distribution model of militarizing aid and forcing displacement.

Skau said he met with Israeli authorities at different levels last week and that the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation "did not come up in those conversations."

"I think there were rumors of the UN being pushed out, but it was very clear in my engagement that they want the UN to continue to be the main track in delivery," Skau said.

DEATHS

Since Israel lifted an 11-week aid blockade on Gaza on May 19, allowing limited UN deliveries to resume.

The GHF launched its operation, using private US security and logistics firms to transport aid to distribution hubs, a week later.

The United Nations human rights office said on Friday that it had recorded 615 deaths near GHF sites and 183 deaths "presumably on the route of aid convoys" operated by the UN and other relief groups.

The GHF has repeatedly said there have been no deaths at any of its aid distribution sites. The group said on Friday that it has so far delivered more than 70 million meals in Gaza.

The US State Department has approved $30 million in funding for the GHF, which touts its model as "reinventing aid delivery in war zones."

Israel and the United States have accused Hamas of stealing aid from the UN-led operations, which the group denies.

Throughout the conflict, the United Nations has described its humanitarian operation in Gaza as opportunistic - facing problems with Israel's military operation, access restrictions by Israel into and throughout Gaza, and looting by armed gangs.

But the UN has said its aid distribution system works, and that was particularly proven during a two-month ceasefire, which Israel abandoned in mid-March.

The UN said it got 600-700 trucks of aid a day into Gaza during the truce and has stressed then when people know there is a steady flow of aid, the looting subsides.