Uganda Unveils Monument to Yonatan Netanyahu to Honor His Courage During 1976 Hostage Rescue Operation
Uganda’s military unveiled a monument to Yonatan Netanyahu, the older brother of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to honor his role in a1976 hostage rescue operation. The statue, which depicts Yonatan Netanyahu holding an assault rifle, was unveiled by Ugandan military chief Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba at the Entebbe airport terminal. Yonatan Netanyahu was the only Israeli commando killed during the mission to rescue 106 passengers from an air hijacked flight. The operation, which led by Yonatan Netanyahu, resulted in the success of the rescue while dozens of Ugandan soldiers were killed in the crossfire. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba commissioned the monument to pay tribute to the soldier's courage and commitment to duty. The rescue remains a seminal event in Israeli history, often cited as one of the country's greatest military successes. While the operation was criticized by the African Union's predecessor for violating Uganda's sovereignty, the administration of President Yoweri Museveni currently maintains cordial ties with Israel.