Uganda has unveiled a statue of Yonatan Netanyahu. He is the older brother of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The statue is at the site of the Entebbe airport. It is where he died in 1976 during a daring Israeli operation. The statue depicts Netanyahu with a machine gun. It stands near the terminal where the mission unfolded. The terminal is now long decommissioned.
The 1976 Entebbe operation
On 3 July 1976, an Air France flight en route to Paris was hijacked by Palestinian militants of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. The aircraft, which had taken off from Tel Aviv on 27 June, was forced to refuel in Libya and eventually diverted to Entebbe International Airport in Uganda. The hijackers demanded $5 million and the release of 53 militants jailed in several countries in exchange for the hostages.
More than 100 hostages were rescued in a 90-minute operation led by Israeli commandos. Netanyahu, who led the mission, was the only Israeli killed. Three hostages died during the operation, and another, Dora Bloch, was later murdered in hospital in the capital, Kampala.
The operation was a major success for Israel but a profound embarrassment for then-Ugandan President Idi Amin, who had welcomed the hijackers. Amin’s regime, now described by Ugandan officials as a brutal dictatorship, has long been criticized for harboring the hijackers and failing to protect the hostages.
A renewed partnership
Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Uganda’s army chief, spoke at the unveiling of the statue. He called it a tribute to Netanyahu's 'courage and selfless service.' He described the rescue mission as 'one of the most significant episodes in modern history.'
Kainerugaba also acknowledged the Ugandan soldiers who died fighting the Israeli forces. He stated that the soldiers 'fought valiantly in what they believed was a justified cause.' He noted that the government they served was not representative of the Ugandan people.
Despite the conflict of 1976, Kainerugaba said relations between Uganda and Israel have evolved. They have become a 'partnership characterised by mutual trust, respect and co-operation.' He added that the statue is intended to inspire future generations. It is to pursue peace and justice.
Netanyahu's legacy
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's current prime minister, visited the site a decade ago. He said: 'I learned from my brother that you need two things to defeat the terrorists: clarity and courage.'
The Entebbe mission remains a defining moment in Israeli military history. Netanyahu’s sacrifice was seen as a symbol of bravery, and his legacy has endured across borders. The statue in Entebbe is a rare and bold move by Uganda to publicly honor an Israeli national hero.