Ugandan Military Honors Slain Israeli Commander Netanyahu With Entebbe Statue

Uganda's military has erected a statue to honor Yonatan Netanyahu, the older brother of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who died leading the 1976 Entebbe hostage rescue operation. The monument, depicting Netanyahu holding a rifle, was unveiled by Ugandan military chief Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba.

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Today, this memorial stands not only in remembrance of a distinguished soldier, but also as a tribute to the enduring values he embodied: courage in the face of danger, unwavering commitment to protecting innocent lives, and steadfast devotion to duty.

Kainerugaba, who is also President Yoweri Museveni's eldest son and a potential successor, stated that he commissioned the statue to recognize the soldier's bravery. He described the Entebbe mission as a pivotal moment in modern history and highlighted the strong relationship between Uganda and Israel as a remarkable journey.

The statue now stands outside the Entebbe airport terminal, the very location where Lt. Col. Yonatan Netanyahu fell during the daring raid. He was the sole Israeli commando lost in the operation to save 106 passengers from an Air France flight hijacked by Palestinian and German militants. The hijackers demanded the release of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the hostages.

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one of the most significant episodes in modern history

Israeli commandos stormed the airport in July 1976, successfully rescuing 102 hostages. While three hostages died during the raid, a fourth, Dora Bloch, was later killed on the orders of then-Ugandan President Idi Amin. The operation, which lasted less than an hour, also resulted in the deaths of dozens of Ugandan soldiers. At the time, Amin had severed ties with Israel and supported the Palestinian cause, making the successful Israeli raid a significant humiliation.

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remarkable journey