Are two small islands owned by Egypt or Saudi Arabia? | Inside Story

It's a highly contentious issue in Egypt - are the small islands of Sanafir and Tiran owned by Egypt or Saudi Arabia?
Located between both countries at the top of the Red Sea, they're considered to be strategically important because of their proximity to ports in Jordan and Israel.
After months of debates and protests in Cairo, the territorial dispute is back in the parliamentary spotlight.
A committee of Egyptian MPs has approved an agreement to hand over control of the islands to Saudi Arabia, despite the High Administrative Court in January declaring the plan unconstitutional.
What's the real story behind the sell-off?
Presenter: Dareen Abughaida
Guests:
Yehya Ghanem, Al Jazeera's Middle East Analyst
Timothy Kaldas, TIMEP policy institute focussing on analysis in the Middle East
Subscribe to our channel: aje.io/AJSubscribe
Follow us on Twitter: / ajenglish
Find us on Facebook: / aljazeera
Check our website: www.aljazeera.com/

[@lagseeing8341]

it belongs to china

[@roshlouis8767]

YES, CHINA SHOULD HAVE IT. THE POOR FELLOWS ARE BUILDING ISLANDS BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH.

[@f4ramadhana435]

Somalian pirate's tsundere girlfriend B-baka nice one haha

[@ahmed-bi4yb]

Somalian pirate's tsundere girlfriend B-baka hhhh that name though😂

[@nassauguy48]

As a Greek, I say EGYPT, our dear friend and ally, of course!

[@feduptaxpayer2504]

nice work aljazeera, just when they ganged up on qatar

[@zozodolewin2479]

fed up tax payer now rith now

[@re-unitecommunities7443]

this Islands belong by Saudi Arabia...not egypt

[@olivierguermeur6978]

that's smell,a probable military alliance beetween the saouds and the israelis.

[@lockefinely2841]

to measure from the highest or lowest point this is the question .

[@FOLIPE]

How can they call Nasser the "then president"? They should have at least used his name, because he is not just another president, like it or not he was probably the most important Egyptian and Arab of the 20th century.

[@chinchinkomokan9474]

He was nothing but criminal who losed his mind.

[@FOLIPE]

Chinchin Komokan He was one of the most important Egyptians ever, and one of the most respected people from that country to this day...

[@chinchinkomokan9474]

really? How you know that? Are you Egyptians? I know he wasn't like anyother president, But that doesn't mean he was good, or we must respect a criminal like him. Saddam was important as well he done things that will effect Iraq and the word for years. But he was a criminal. I hate what he done when he was in power.

[@chinchinkomokan9474]

Ok you were right I got your point now. you are right it's better if she mention his name rather than just saying "then president". But I don't think it's a big deal because they already wrote his name in the bottom of the video (screen). Remember there are nothing call neutrality in media. ever was. media more like an individual person. if hate someone make him\her look very bad. if liked someone\something make him\her the best of the best. + who paid them more.

[@zat0076]

Well...it was traded for a bailout by Saudi

[@farizalresat]

Saudi and Egypt should do Battle Royale on those Islands.

[@YC-dy9by]

Sold? If they are sold, then they belonged to Egypt.

[@Marcus.Halberstram]

aljazeera trying to divide Saudi Arabia and Egypt. It's so obvious. those islands belong to Kekistan.

[@existentialvoid]

How much for the Islands!

[@naturealbums]

Might be a good idea to ask Israel to mediate this dispute, just an idea :-)

[@777YR]

Hahaha :')... Since both are israels best friends maybe they will even agree on giving them to israel.

[@777YR]

With the current egyptian military and governement, egypt is nothing more but a vassal to israel. You know what the real joke is ? al-sissi.

[@namerelevant2499]

Ohh trying to sow discord much?

[@jennifercswindal6850]

I am sure you are kidding a war would destroy everything

[@neutronstar5544]

does it have oil or any resources?

[@MahmoudZaki88]

savage q They have some nice coral reefs. But these islands are located on tiran straight which leads to Elat in Israel. Anyway this straight according to international law is an international water way and nobody had the right to block it.

[@neutronstar5544]

Mahmoud Zaki does anyone live there?

[@ParissaKhoury]

They're owned by Egypt

[@xtremeownage2]

It should belong to Pakistan.

[@Saabshir]

steven paul because he's a lying brown Asian

[@smokz498]

neither the Saudis nor the Egyptians are angry. Qataris are angry for being kicked out of Saudi Arabia

[@KhaldunQaysi]

Please stop this nonsense, the whole territories of both states KSA and Egypt belong to one nation which Arab nation ... raising the issue of a disputed land strikes me.

[@edca8114]

what ? F. moderate T. fighting for land now ?

[@jennifercswindal6850]

A peaceful place

[@jennifercswindal6850]

Why can they share it lol

[@jennifercswindal6850]

My place!!!

[@jennifercswindal6850]

Happy place

[@mechanicalporn13]

Fight for it winner takes all🌚😌

[@ahmetunlu1318]

Just give it to the turks just like it is supposed to be

[@philll3666]

Amen. Give it to the great people of Turkey, the greatest middle eastern empire in history. The Ottomans were so noble.

[@sohaibakram92]

Just give the islands To KSA already now!

[@stormynatero4392]

WELL WHO HAD THEM LAST LOL

[@maheshsood5664]

al jazeera is playing the wrong game .... terrorism not island any issue ... talk doha connivance with terrorist .... have courage...Focus.

[@jennifercswindal6850]

My new country I like Both countries

[@javedmamun]

SISIISISISRAEL

[@jennifercswindal6850]

Happy Place no war

[@jennifercswindal6850]

So keep fighting I am out

[@cargom6704]

The islands belongs to Jordan

[@blakelisser1936]

Jordan isn’t even close to the island 🤣🤣

[@panongkone]

Egypt take one Saudi take one should be ok

[@zozodolewin2479]

this guys salling them cantery way

[@jennifercswindal6850]

Please I want it

[@ScottKoningisor-gs8kr]

The Gulf of Aqaba is Palestinian waters . . ..

[@philnolan8388]

It belongs to America

[@wadefreeman7340]

it is belongs saudi arabia we need fight each other

[@jennifercswindal6850]

Please

[@jennifercswindal6850]

I wanna live there

[@bilehassan4607]

JenniferC Swindal are you depressed?

[@jennifercswindal6850]

Had family tragedy. Getting better Stages of grief.

[@jennifercswindal6850]

Egypt can not take care of themselves

[@jennifercswindal6850]

Well just be mean

[@wadefreeman7340]

salah qatar support alshabaab you must know saudi and emarates we good relation politicaly and geographicaly and bussness also qatar is nothing for us alshabab the only freind they have are alshabab .where is sheikh atom where is sheikh aways

[@sherillgeorge7888]

dirt

[@joyaku8707]

SISI SOLD THE TWO ISLANDS TO SAUDIS

[@sherif2050]

Sisi is sell out for sure he’s as low as it gets

[@onlythewise1]

flip a coin

[@philnolan8388]

They belong to Israel