Egypt debates ownership of Red Sea islands

An Egyptian parliamentary committee has begun reviewing a disputed 2016 agreement to hand control over two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia, a move critics say ignores a final ruling by a High Court to annul the pact. This follows a January ruling by the High Administrative Court that upheld a lower court verdict, declaring the agreement unconstitutional and void. A report on the Al Jazeera site notes that committee members are divided over whether reviewing the agreement is appropriate given the January court ruling. The Supreme Constitutional Court, Egypt's highest tribunal, also has yet to rule on whether courts had jurisdiction to rule on the agreement. The Egyptian Government contends that the islands of Tiran and Sanafir at the mouth of the Gulf of Aqaba belonged to Saudi Arabia, which placed them in Cairo's custody in the 1950s for protection against possible Israeli attacks. Critics say surrendering them amounts to treason and claim it was linked to Saudi financial aid, a charge denied by authorities.

Full report on the Al Jazeera site