By Uganda has unveiled a monument in honour of Lt. Col. Yonatan “Yoni” Netanyahu, the Israeli military commander who was killed during the 1976 Entebbe hostage rescue operation, marking 50 years since one of the world’s most well-known counterterrorism missions.
The monument was unveiled on August 1 at the old terminal of Entebbe International Airport by Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba. The memorial stands near the site where Netanyahu was fatally shot while leading Israeli commandos during the rescue mission.
Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, Gen. Kainerugaba described the monument as a tribute to Netanyahu’s courage and sacrifice, saying it honours his “courage, unwavering commitment to protecting innocent lives, and steadfast devotion to duty.”
The Entebbe raid, carried out on July 4, 1976, followed the hijacking of an Air France flight travelling from Tel Aviv to Paris. The aircraft, carrying more than 250 passengers, was diverted to Entebbe by Palestinian and German militants, who held the passengers hostage.
Israeli commandos launched a daring overnight rescue operation that freed 106 hostages. Yonatan Netanyahu, who commanded the assault, was the only Israeli soldier killed during the mission. The operation has since become one of the most celebrated military rescue missions in modern history.
At the time of the raid, Uganda was under the rule of Idi Amin, whose government condemned the Israeli operation as a violation of Uganda’s sovereignty. The raid also resulted in the deaths of several Ugandan military personnel and civilians. The incident remains a significant chapter in both Ugandan and Israeli history.
The unveiling of the monument reflects the warm diplomatic and security ties that now exist between Uganda and Israel, a marked contrast to the strained relationship between the two countries five decades ago. However, the ceremony has drawn mixed reactions, including from Hussein Lumumba Amin, son of former Ugandan president Idi Amin, who criticised the decision to honour Netanyahu.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has become a polarising figure internationally following the International Criminal Court’s issuance of arrest warrants in November 2024 for him and former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity during Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. Netanyahu has become a polarizing figure due to his continued military adventures in both Lebanon and Iran. He is increasingly isolated due to gaza genocide, Lebanon and Iran wars that have seen countless civilians killed.
The memorial also serves as a reminder of the events that unfolded at Entebbe in 1976 and honours those involved in a mission that continues to be studied as a landmark operation in military history.
