Egypt Lawmakers Approve Red Sea Islands Transfer to Saudi Arabia

Egypt’s parliament backed President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi’s decision to transfer two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia, snubbing court rulings invalidating the move and risking renewed protests against a treaty opponents denounced as an erosion of sovereignty.

Parliament on Wednesday passed an agreement redrawing maritime borders between the two countries after heated committee debates this week. Lawmakers were asked to stand to register their approval. Critics accuse El-Sisi, who signed the transfer accord a year ago during King Salman’s visit to Cairo, of giving up land in exchange for Saudi aid. The government says the islands -- Tiran and Sanafir -- have always belonged to Saudi Arabia and that Egypt was merely overseeing their administration.