Sanafir Island 3.65

Sanafir Island is an island in the Straits of Tiran east of Tiran Island. It is administered by Egypt. It measures 33km² in area.On 9 April 2016, the Egyptian government declared that Sanafir and Tiran Island fall within the territorial waters of Saudi Arabia, as codified in the maritime border agreement signed with the government of Saudi Arabia on the previous day. However, the agreement must be ratified by the Parliament of Egypt, and has reportedly been quashed by an Egyptian judge. The deal moves forward the idea of building the Saudi–Egypt Causeway. The deal has caused turmoil in Egyptian politics erupting mass protests that accused President Sisi of "selling" Egyptian land. An Egyptian court gave its final ruling in January 2017, rejecting the deal and affirming Egyptian sovereignty on both the islands. Egypt's House Committee on Defence and National Security unanimously approved the transfer of Tiran and Sanafir islands to Saudi Arabia on 14 June 2017, and the plan was passed by the Egyptian Parliament later the same day.HistoryIn World War II, the Egyptian forces on Tiran and Sanafir islands were part of the Egyptian troops protecting Suez canal, according to Egypt's representative at the 659th UN security council meeting on 15 February 1954:In the same meeting, Egypt's representative considered Tiran and Sanafir islands an integral part of the territory of Egypt, since they have been under Egypt's administration since 1906: