Full Breakdown
Uganda Unveils Statue of Yonatan Netanyahu at Entebbe Airport
8/3/2026, 11:14:53 AM
The Unveiling Ceremony
On August 1, Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, presided over the inauguration of a bronze monument to Lieutenant Colonel Yonatan “Yoni” Netanyahu at the historic Old Entebbe Airport terminal—the exact spot where the Israeli commander fell during the 1976 rescue operation. The statue depicts Netanyahu striding forward with a machine gun, symbolising “courage, duty and selfless service,” according to the ceremony’s host.
Historical Background
On June 27, 1976, an Air France flight that had departed Tel Aviv for Paris was hijacked by members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and Germany’s Revolutionary Cells after a stop in Athens. The aircraft was forced to land at Entebbe Airport, where Ugandan dictator Idi Amin offered the hijackers safe haven. The militants demanded $5 million and the release of 53 prisoners.
Between June 30 and July 1, some hostages were released, but Israeli and Jewish passengers remained captive. On July 3, Israeli commandos launched a surprise raid, storming the terminal in less than 90 minutes. The operation rescued more than 100 hostages, but Yonatan Netanyahu was the sole Israeli soldier killed. Three hostages—Jean-Jacques Mimouni, Pasco Cohen and Ida Borochovitch—died during the assault, and Dora Bloch was later murdered in a Kampala hospital. Ugandan forces suffered at least 45 soldier fatalities, while the hijackers and their accomplices were killed on the ground.
Data and Statistics
- Passengers on the hijacked flight: 246.
- Hostages rescued: over 100.
- Israeli casualties: 1 (Yonatan Netanyahu).
- Hostage deaths: 4 (Jean-Jacques Mimouni, Pasco Cohen, Ida Borochovitch, Dora Bloch).
- Ugandan soldier deaths: at least 45.
These figures underscore the operation’s scale and its lasting resonance in both Ugandan and Israeli collective memory.
Verbatim Quotes
- “There aren’t many memorials erected at the exact place where the person fell. It’s chilling,” — Itay Zalait
- “It is a great honor and privilege to join you at this historic site as we unveil this monument to Lieutenant Colonel Yonatan ‘Yoni’ Netanyahu, the courageous commander of the Israeli rescue force whose leadership and ultimate sacrifice during the Entebbe raid of July 4, 1976, has become an enduring symbol of courage, duty and selfless service,” — Israel. Uganda’s
- “Monuments are more than stone and bronze,” — Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, uganda's army chief
- “It is a great honour to unveil this memorial to Lt Col Yonatan 'Yoni' Netanyahu, whose leadership and sacrifice during Operation Entebbe remain an enduring symbol of bravery and selfless service,” — Gen Kainerugaba, uganda's army chief
Impact on Uganda-Israel Relations
The unveiling marks a milestone in a bilateral relationship that has evolved from the 1976 crisis to a multifaceted partnership. Both governments have cited cooperation in security, innovation, sustainable development and counter-extremism as priority areas. The ceremony’s rhetoric positions the monument as a bridge linking a historic episode to contemporary diplomatic and defence collaboration.
What’s Next
General Kainerugaba indicated that Uganda will continue to deepen security cooperation with Israel and expand joint projects in technology and agriculture.
