Cairo – Mubasher: Egypt’s administrative court invalidated the maritime boundary treaty signed with Saudi Arabia over two the two Red Sea islands, Tiran and Sanafir, according to the Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights (ECESR).
The verdict provided that the two Red Sea islands would "remain under Egyptian sovereignty". This decision will become legally binding, only when the High Administrative Court of Egypt gives the green light to this decision.
In April, the Egyptian President decided to cede control over the two islands to Saudi Arabia during King Salman’s visit. At the same time, the Saudi King granted Egypt a multi-billion dollar aid, which stirred up uproars and protests all over Egypt, leading some to accuse the president of selling the two Egyptian islands.
“Sanafir and Tiran are islands that lie about 4km (2 nautical miles) apart in the Red Sea. Tiran sits at the mouth of the Gulf of Aqaba, on a strategically important stretch of water called the Strait of Tiran, used by Israel to access the Red Sea”, according to BBC News.
