Why did Uganda unveil a statue of Netanyahu's brother at Entebbe?
Why did Uganda unveil a statue of Netanyahu's brother at Entebbe? Submitted by Azad Essa on Tue, 08/18/2026 - 23:31 Uganda once condemned Israel’s Entebbe raid as a violation of its sovereignty. Fifty years later, it has unveiled a statue honouring the Israeli commander killed during it The statue of Yonathan Netanyahu was unveiled at the old Entebbe terminal in Uganda (UPDF) Off In early August,…
In 1976, Israel faced a daring hostage situation when a group of Palestinian terrorists hijacked an Air France plane, carrying 248 passengers, including 105 Jews, in Entebbe, Uganda. The Ugandan government, led by Idi Amin, initially granted refuge to the hijackers. However, the Israeli government, in coordination with the Israeli military, devised a daring rescue mission known as Operation Thunderbolt.
Israeli special forces stormed the Entebbe Airport, killing all hijackers and 45 Ugandan soldiers, while rescuing 102 hostages. The operation is remembered as a significant event in Israeli history, prompting Yonatan Netanyahu, the Israeli assault force commander who was killed during the operation, to be honored with a statue unveiled in Uganda on the 50th anniversary of the raid.
This statue, commissioned by Ugandan army chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has sparked mixed reactions, both domestically and internationally, as Uganda considers its relationship with Israel amid ongoing regional conflicts.
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