Egypt Gives Two Islands to Saudi Arabia

Egypt's decision to return to Saudi Arabia two small islands of the Sinai Peninsula provoked protests on Egyptian social networks and media

The unexpected decision of the ruling regime in Cairo to give up the uninhabited islands of Tiran and Sanafir was announced on Saturday during the historic visit made in Egypt by King Salman of Saudi Arabia.

Three days later, television news commentators controlled by the regime of President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi, continue to express their outrage at his gesture. Similar reactions were recorded on social networks, writes Reuters.

Acting against the criticism, the Egyptian government claims that these islands would actually belongs to the Saudis and would be located in Saudi territorial waters as in 1950 Saudi Arabia urged Egypt to protect them.

The government in Cairo also argues that the former President Hosni Mubarak signed in 1990 a document that stipulates the restitution of the two islands and just after signing the law he informed the UN.

For Egyptians, the islands of Tiran and Sanafir have a rather symbolic significance related to the four wars that their country had with Israel. Strategically located at the entrance to the Gulf of Aqaba, they allow the Egyptians to own the Israeli port of Eilat access control through the Strait of Tiran.