Veterans Boycott 50th-Anniversary Entebbe Ceremony, Citing War-Time Grievances

On July 4 1976, Israeli commandos flew nearly 2,500 miles to Entebbe Airport in Uganda and rescued 102 hostages from Palestinian and German hijackers. The raid, known as Operation Thunderbolt and later renamed “Operation Yonatan” after the mission’s commander Yonatan (Yoni) Netanyahu, became a cornerstone of Israel’s national narrative. Fifty years later, the country is engaged in a war that began with Hamas’s October 7 2023 attack, prompting leaders to invoke Entebbe as a symbol of resolve against terrorism.

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President Isaac Herzog hosted a state ceremony at his Jerusalem residence on July 12-13 2026 to mark the 50th anniversary. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Herzog, and IDF Chief of Staff Lt-Gen Eyal Zamir addressed a hall filled with young soldiers, families of the rescued, and some Entebbe veterans. Dozens of the raid’s original commanders and commando soldiers, however, refused to attend. Retired General Matan Vilnai, the operation’s deputy commander, led the boycott, stating that the event would serve only as “decorative prop” for Netanyahu’s political agenda.

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• Matan Vilnai – Deputy commander of the Entebbe raid, retired IDF general.

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• Uri Sagi – Former military intelligence chief who commanded Golani forces during the raid.

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• Benny Davidson – Survivor rescued as a 13-year-old, organized a quiet protest outside the president’s residence.

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• Doron Hanan – Aircrew member of the 1976 mission who attended the ceremony despite personal discomfort.

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• Benjamin Netanyahu – Prime Minister, brother of Yoni Netanyahu, used the anniversary to frame Israel’s current campaign against Iran.

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• Isaac Herzog – President of Israel, host of the ceremony.

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• Eyal Zamir – IDF Chief of Staff, linked the Entebbe legacy to the present war.

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President Herzog emphasized that “Operation Yonatan does not belong to an individual or a group. It stands above all disputes,” describing the raid as a “moral declaration” that established the principle that “there may be borders to the state, but there is no border to responsibility.” Chief of Staff Zamir echoed this, saying the raid’s “compass” guides Israel “with even greater intensity since October 7.” Prime Minister Netanyahu connected the historic mission to the current fight, declaring that the Entebbe raid “turned the impossible into possible” and that Israel is “systematically crushing the Iranian axis of evil.”

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Veterans issued an open letter declaring, “We refuse to serve as a window dressing,” and accused Netanyahu of “abandoning” hostages taken on October 7 2023 and of enabling mass draft exemptions for ultra-Orthodox men while reservists endure repeated combat tours. Uri Sagi framed the boycott as “a matter of conscience.” Benny Davidson rejected participation, labeling the ceremony a “display that covers a collapse of values and leadership” and staged a small protest outside Herzog’s residence.

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Outside the president’s residence, demonstrators gathered with signs condemning the government’s policies. Inside the hall, Doron Hanan expressed mixed feelings, noting he “swallowed” his discomfort to honor his comrades, yet added, “I am ashamed of what Israel has become, as well.” The ceremony proceeded with a full audience of young soldiers, bereaved families, and the few veterans who chose to attend.

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Sources agree that a significant number of Entebbe veterans boycotted the event, but exact figures differ; no precise count of absent veterans is provided.

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• “What exactly is there to celebrate – an operation from 50 years ago? I haven’t celebrated since October 7,” — Matan Vilnai, retired general

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• “We refuse to serve as a window dressing,” — Veterans, open letter

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• “This is a matter of conscience,” — Uri Sagi, former military intelligence chief

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• “There isn’t a day I don’t think about Yoni, there isn’t a day that I don’t consult with Yoni,” — Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister

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• “I am ashamed of what Israel has become, as well.” — Doron Hanan, aircrew member of the 1976 mission

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