The government insists the islands always belonged to Saudi Arabia and were merely placed under Egypt's protection in the 1950s. But the islands deal has galvanized opposition among many of his former supporters, and hundreds took to the streets last April after it was announced. Egypt and Saudi Arabia are split over Syria, where Cairo views the government as a bulwark against Islamic extremists and Saudi Arabia supports the rebels fighting to topple President Bashar Assad. Saudi Arabia cut off fuel shipments to Egypt in September after Cairo backed a U.N. resolution on Syria that was opposed by the kingdom. Tamer el-Shahawi, an el-Sissi supporter in parliament, said the court ruling would likely prevent parliament from ratifying the deal.

Source: ABC News January 16, 2017 09:24 UTC