The Egyptian cabinet refused Wednesday to comment on the State Council’s verdict concerning the Red Sea islands, but vowed to appeal the verdict and described it as non-final.
The statement added that the State Lawsuit Authority (SLA) will argue in its appeal that the State Council Administrative Court is not authorised to look into the case.
On Tuesday, the State Council Administrative Court ruled in favour of cancelling the maritime demarcation agreement that saw the cessation of the Red Sea islands of Tiran and Sanafir to Saudi Arabia in April.
The cabinet said it will present documents and maps to the court to secure the case and show the strength of its arguments in front of the High Administrative Court.
However, since the court began work on the case, the government’s lawyer has not presented any evidence or documentation that would support the agreement.
This was highlighted in the court’s reasoning behind its ruling, which said that the SLA did not provide any subjective arguments. Instead, the SLA remained consistent in its argument that the court is not entitled to look into the case.
The court said that such an argument is usually a method used by those aiming to achieve a personal gain, “but it should not be done by an institution whose aim should be the common good”.
The cabinet also said there has been no relinquishing of Egyptian territory, adding that such an act is not within the principles of the Egyptian state.
Tuesday’s ruling stated that the Egyptian state should continue to exercise all acts of sovereignty over the territories.
Following the court’s ruling, lawyers, activists, and spectators rushed out of the courthouse cheering loudly and expressing their joy over what they deemed as the best outcome for the ruling.
The agreement, which was signed in April during the visit of Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud to Egypt, prompted strong reactions from the public. Members of the press have dug out historical documents to prove that the islands are Egyptian, while the state publicised documents that said the islands are Saudi.
