Half a century after the daring Entebbe hostage rescue captivated the world, Uganda has unveiled a statue honoring Lt. Col. Yonatan “Yoni” Netanyahu at the old Entebbe Airport terminal, the site where the Israeli commander was killed while leading the elite IDF mission that rescued dozens of hostages in 1976.

Speaking at the dedication ceremony, Uganda’s military chief, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, praised Netanyahu’s leadership and sacrifice during the historic operation.

“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,” Kainerugaba said, according to the Kampala Post.

During his remarks, Kainerugaba also paid tribute to those who were murdered during the hostage crisis, naming 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 Ugandan general also emphasized the close relationship that has developed between Jerusalem and Kampala in the decades since the raid.

“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 monument fulfills a pledge Kainerugaba made earlier this year, when he announced plans to erect a statue of Yoni Netanyahu “at the exact spot” where the Israeli commander fell during the operation. In a post on X that was later deleted, the general said he believed the project had been inspired by divine guidance.

“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.

The Entebbe crisis began after an Air France flight traveling from Tel Aviv to Paris with 246 passengers aboard was hijacked following a stop in Athens. Terrorists from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, joined by members of Germany’s Revolutionary Cells, diverted the aircraft to Uganda, where dictator Idi Amin welcomed the hijackers and allowed them to operate freely while they demanded $5 million and the release of 53 pro-Palestinian terrorists.

Once the plane arrived in Uganda, the terrorists separated the Israeli and Jewish passengers from the remaining hostages. Most of the non-Jewish captives were released over the following two days, while the Israelis and Jews remained imprisoned.

One week later, Israeli commandos launched one of the most celebrated hostage rescue missions in military history. Four Israeli C-130 Hercules transport aircraft flew thousands of miles to Entebbe, where elite forces stormed the airport and rescued the hostages in a lightning-fast operation that was completed within hours.

The mission came at a heavy cost. Four hostages lost their lives during the ordeal, and Yoni Netanyahu—the older brother of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the commander of the rescue force—was the only Israeli soldier killed during the operation.

{Matzav.com}