Egypt's State Security Prosecution ordered the detention of Muslim Brotherhood leaders Khairat El-Shater and Saad El-Katatni for 15 days on charges of espionage in coordination with Hamas, the Muslim Brotherhood's Palestinian offshoot.

Ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi – a Muslim Brotherhood leader himself before being elected president in 2012 – is under investigation on suspicion of collaborating with Hamas to orchestrate his escape from Wadi El-Natroun Prison in early 2011. He also faces accusations of destroying police records during the 2011 uprising.

El-Shater and El-Katatni, who were arrested following Morsi's ouster, are also accused of inciting violence against anti-Morsi protesters in Giza on 3 July, the night of Morsi’s ouster, and of inciting deadly violence at clashes outside the Muslim Brotherhood's headquarters in the Cairo district of Mokattam on 30 June.

Security forces have arrested dozens of the Islamist group's top members since Morsi's removal from power, many of whom face charges of inciting violence during Morsi's time in office and after his ouster.