# Uganda Unveils Monument for Yonatan Netanyahu Five Decades After Historic Entebbe Rescue Operation

> Uganda has erected a statue of Yonatan Netanyahu at the old Entebbe airport terminal, honoring the sole Israeli soldier killed during the 1976 hostage rescue operation.

**Type:** article · **Category:** World · **Published:** 2026-08-02 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/world/entebe-vimana-apaharana-abhiyana-ke-50-sala-bada-uganda-men-izaraili-pradhanamntri-ke-bhai-yonatan-netanyahu-ki-pratima-ka-anavara-13088 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Uganda, Israel, Yonatan Netanyahu, Entebbe Raid, Idi Amin

Uganda has formally unveiled a monumental statue honoring Yonatan Netanyahu, the elder brother of Israel's prime minister, commemorating five decades since his death during the legendary hostage rescue operation at Entebbe airport.

## Commemorating Courage at the Historical Landmark
The newly erected monument depicts Yonatan Netanyahu advancing forward while holding a machine gun. Positioned prominently outside the old terminal building at Entebbe International Airport, the statue marks the exact location where the dramatic raid took place half a century ago. Speaking during the official ceremony, Ugandan army chief Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba paid tribute to the commander, praising his exceptional bravery and selfless commitment during the raid. Kainerugaba emphasized that the 1976 mission stands as one of the most defining episodes in modern history, noting how the memory of the event has guided Uganda and Israel along a remarkable journey toward strong diplomatic bonds.

## The 1976 Flight Hijacking and Crisis at Entebbe
The historical tragedy began on 27 June 1976 when an Air France Airbus A300, traveling from Tel Aviv to Paris, made a scheduled stopover in Athens. It was at the Athens airport that four hijackers, consisting of two Palestinians from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and two German nationals, boarded the aircraft. Shortly after takeoff, the hijackers took control of the plane and forced it to divert to Libya for refueling before continuing onward to Uganda. Upon landing at Entebbe, the hijackers were welcomed by Uganda's ruler Idi Amin.

Once on the ground, the hijackers made severe demands, requesting $5 million in cash along with the immediate release of 53 imprisoned militants held across Israel, France, Germany, Switzerland, and Kenya. On 30 June and 1 July, the hijackers released a significant portion of non-Israeli passengers. However, they kept Israeli and Jewish passengers hostage, threatening them with execution if their conditions were not satisfied.

## The Commando Assault: A 90-Minute Rescue Raid
In response to the growing crisis, elite Israeli commandos orchestrated a covert rescue operation on 3 July 1976. Flying secretly from Israel via Kenya, the commando unit landed at Entebbe airport under the cover of darkness and initiated a rapid assault that lasted under 90 minutes. The tactical operation succeeded in freeing more than 100 hostages who were trapped inside the terminal building.

Yonatan Netanyahu was killed during the confrontation, becoming the sole Israeli military casualty of the mission. In addition to his death, three hostages lost their lives during the intense crossfire at the terminal, identified as Jean-Jacques Mimouni, Pasco Cohen, and Ida Borochovitch. A fourth hostage, Dora Bloch, had been removed from the airport earlier to receive medical care at a hospital in Kampala, where she was subsequently murdered.

## Losses and Historical Reflection on Idi Amin's Regime
The raid resulted in fierce fighting between Israeli commandos, the hijackers, and Ugandan armed forces guarding the site. All four original hijackers and three additional accomplices who joined them in Uganda were killed. At least 45 Ugandan soldiers were also killed in the action.

Addressing the deaths of the Ugandan troops, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba remarked that those soldiers fought valiantly in defence of what they believed to be a justified cause at the time. However, Kainerugaba made a clear distinction regarding Uganda's past, stating that today it is well understood that Idi Amin's government was a brutal dictatorship that did not represent the Ugandan people.

## Building a Modern Diplomatic Relationship
While the successful raid brought widespread celebration in Israel, it was viewed as a major humiliation for Idi Amin's regime. Kainerugaba acknowledged that the events of 1976 remain a painful chapter in Ugandan history. Nevertheless, he highlighted that relations between Uganda and Israel have evolved into a constructive partnership defined by mutual trust, respect, and bilateral cooperation. He added his wish that the memories of those who died continue to inspire future generations in their pursuit of peace, justice, and human dignity.

## What this means for you
**Global Perspective:** This shift in Uganda-Israel relations highlights how nations can move beyond historic military conflicts and diplomatic strain toward constructive partnership and mutual cooperation.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. Who was Yonatan Netanyahu?
Yonatan Netanyahu was the elder brother of Israel's prime minister and a commando leader who died during the 1976 Entebbe hostage rescue mission.

### 2. What was the Entebbe hostage rescue operation?
In June 1976, hijackers diverted an Air France flight to Entebbe Airport in Uganda, prompting an Israeli commando raid that rescued over 100 hostages.

### 3. Where is the newly unveiled statue located?
The statue stands outside the old terminal building at Entebbe International Airport in Uganda where the rescue took place.

### 4. How many Israeli soldiers died during the Entebbe operation?
Yonatan Netanyahu was the only Israeli soldier killed during the tactical raid.

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