Statue of Yoni Netanyahu unveiled at Uganda’s Entebbe Airport, 50 years after raid

A statue of Yonatan Netanyahu, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s older brother, has been unveiled at the old Entebbe Airport terminal where he was killed leading an elite IDF force in the rescue of hostages in 1976.

“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,” said Uganda’s military chief Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba at the ceremony, the Kampala Post reported Saturday. 

Kainerugaba also named those killed throughout the hostage taking, including Jean-Jacques Maimoni, Pasco Cohen, Ida Borochovitch and Dora Bloch.

“As we gather here, we also respectfully remember the innocent hostages who lost their lives during those tragic events,” he said. “Their memory remains an important part of this solemn history.”

“The friendship between Uganda and Israel extends well beyond the events of 1976. Our two countries have enjoyed good relations for a long time now, founded on mutual respect and practical cooperation,” he added.

The unveiling came after Kainerugaba earlier this year announced plans to place a statue of Yoni Netanyahu “at the exact spot” where he was killed. In a post on X he later deleted, Kainerugaba claimed the statue was divinely inspired.

UPDATE – Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba has unveiled a memorial to Lt. Col. Yonatan “Yoni” Netanyahu at the Old Entebbe Airport terminal, where he was killed during the 1976 hostage rescue operation. The CDF said the monument also reflects the growing ties between Uganda and Israel. pic.twitter.com/FZM5FwpvMf

— UBC UGANDA (@ubctvuganda) August 1, 2026

“For the last 4 years, My God Jesus Christ has appeared to me in dreams and visions. He told me to build a monument to Yoni Netanyahu in Entebbe. And not to fear the world. He is stronger than the world!” the since-deleted post declared.

Lt. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, son of Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni, attends a “thanksgiving” ceremony in Entebbe, Uganda, late May 7, 2022. (AP Photo/Hajarah Nalwadda)

The hijacking began when an Air France flight from Tel Aviv to Paris, carrying 246 passengers, was seized after a stop in Athens by terrorists from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and Germany’s Revolutionary Cells. The plane was diverted to Uganda, where the despotic, notoriously unhinged dictator Idi Amin gave the hijackers safe haven as the hijackers demanded $5 million and the release of 53 pro-Palestinian terrorists.

After landing, the hijackers proceeded to separate Israeli and Jewish passengers from most of the others, who were released over two days.

A week after the hijacking, four Israeli C-130 Hercules transport aircraft landed at the airport after flying thousands of miles to Entebbe and within hours, the now-legendary rescue operation was complete. Ultimately, the four hostages were killed along with Netanyahu, the only Israeli military fatality of the mission.

JTA contributed to this report.

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