Egypt's State Lawsuits Authority – the body that represents the government in legal cases – appealed before the High Constitutional Court a June administrative court verdict that voided a decision by the government to place two islands in the Red Sea under Saudi Arabia's sovereignty.

This is the second time that the government has appealed the verdict, the first being an appeal to the high administrative court on the day the verdict was issued.

The High Administrative Court appeal aims to stop the execution of the verdict until the High Constitutional Court looks into the case.

The High Administrative Court has yet to rule on the appeal.

Egypt’s decision to transfer the two strategic islands at the southern tip of the Gulf of Aqaba into Saudi hands sparked widespread public outcry in the country, with some critics accusing the government of "selling" the islands.

Dozens of people have been arrested and put on trial for protesting the deal, though many have since been released.

The Egyptian government repeatedly said that the islands have always belonged to Saudi Arabia and that Egypt has merely been administering them on behalf of the Saudis since the 1950s.