Uganda honours Yonatan Netanyahu with Entebbe memorial 50 years after hostage rescue

Fifty years after the dramatic Entebbe hostage rescue operation strained relations between Uganda and Israel, Ugandan authorities have unveiled a monument honouring the Israeli commander who died during the mission, signalling how far relations between the two countries have evolved.

The statue of Yonatan Netanyahu, the Israeli officer killed while leading the 1976 rescue mission, now stands outside the old Entebbe Airport terminal where the operation unfolded. The memorial was unveiled during a ceremony attended by military officials as Uganda reflected on one of the most controversial episodes in its history.

Speaking at the event, Uganda’s army chief, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, described the rescue mission as a defining moment in modern history and said the monument symbolises courage, sacrifice and the growing partnership between Kampala and Jerusalem.

The Entebbe operation was launched after an Air France flight carrying passengers from Tel Aviv was hijacked and diverted to Uganda under the rule of Idi Amin. Israeli commandos later carried out a long-range rescue mission that freed more than 100 hostages and became one of the world’s most studied military operations.

The raid, however, left casualties on both sides. Netanyahu was killed during the assault, while several hostages, hijackers and Ugandan soldiers also lost their lives.

Gen Kainerugaba acknowledged the Ugandan soldiers who died during the confrontation but noted that they had been serving under Amin’s regime, which he characterised as a dictatorship that did not represent the interests of the Ugandan people.

The commemoration comes amid increasingly warm relations between Uganda and Israel, with both countries expanding cooperation in areas including security and development. For Ugandan officials, the memorial serves not only as a tribute to a fallen commander but also as a reminder of how former adversaries can build lasting diplomatic ties.

Source: BBC