Egyptians angered by parliament's decision for Red Sea islands

Despite public disapproval, the Egyptian parliament has okayed the transfer of the controversial Tiran and Sanafir islands, also known as the Red Sea islands, to Saudi Arabia.

After reaching the required majority of the votes during a parliamentary session held on Wednesday, Egyptian lawmakers endorsed the agreement signed by the government in 2016.

The treaty is yet to be ratified by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, which is merely a formality. 

With a swift voting session, the parliament approved the government's deal with Saudi Arabia, which grants the latter control over the islands in exchange for billions of dollars worth of aid.

A previous ruling by Egypt's highest administrative court had annulled the agreement and ruled that Egypt's sovereignty over the islands could not be given up. An Egyptian state advisory council went on to uphold the ruling, reiterating that the Red Sea islands are Egyptian.

But the parliament insists that the matter is within its constitutional domain.

It is not yet clear who holds the authority to decide on the matter. Parliamentary leaders and government lawyers consider that the House of Representatives has the exclusive authority on issues of sovereignty, while the Supreme Administrative Court claims that it is within its domain to block the deal.

According to Reuters, the Supreme Constitutional Court will rule on the issue of jurisdiction, though it is not clear what effect its ruling will have on parliament's vote - or if a court hearing is held at all. 

The kingdom plans to build a causeway across the Red Sea via Tiran, connecting the two nations. The bridge would enhance trade and tourism between the two countries.

The landmark deal also includes Saudi Arabia signing a $1.5 billion investment for housing in Sinai and agreeing to finance five years' worth of Egypt's petroleum needs at an optimal two percent interest rate.

According to a government report regarding the terms of the agreement, Egypt would maintain its administrative control over the islands and Egyptians would not need visas to visit them.

The ownership of the islands has been subject to dispute for years, as control over them has shifted several times over the past century.

Some experts say that Egypt legally established its territorial claim to the islands in an agreement with the Ottoman Empire in 1906.

Meanwhile, others claim that Egypt merely took control of the islands in 1949, at the beckoning of Saudi Arabia. 

Expecting trouble during the turbulent years of the Arab-Israeli conflict, Saudi Arabia asked Egypt to protect the islands from an Israeli invasion. Egypt agreed to the request but lost control of Tiran to Israel when it was militarily taken over by Israeli forces.

Tiran returned to Egyptian control in 1982, fulfilling a key part of Egypt's peace agreement with the Israeli government. Due to the peace agreement's terms, Israel also had to sign off on the Egyptian government's decision to hand the islands over to Saudi control.

"Egyptian public opinion refuses to give up Tiran and Sanafir to Saudi Arabia in return for its support. They are pure Egyptian islands and the sons of the army paid the price with their lives during the war."

The issue has caused public outcry in Egypt, with many Egyptians accusing their president of "selling" the country's lands. 

According to a recent poll by Baseera, an Egyptian polling group, only 11 percent of Egyptians believe that the islands belong to Saudi Arabia. 

After news of the parliament's approval broke, protesters gathered in downtown Cairo outside the press union. Several protesters, including some journalists, were detained.