Uganda has officially unveiled a memorial monument honoring Lieutenant Colonel Yonatan “Yoni” Netanyahu, the Israeli military commander who was killed during the legendary 1976 Entebbe hostage rescue operation.
The monument, erected at Entebbe International Airport, commemorates Yoni Netanyahu’s leadership in one of the most daring counterterrorism missions in modern history.
He was the only Israeli soldier killed during the operation, which successfully rescued more than 100 hostages held by hijackers after an Air France flight was diverted to Uganda.
Yoni Netanyahu was the elder brother of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The operation was later renamed Operation Yonatan in his honor, cementing his legacy as a national hero in Israel.
The memorial reflects Uganda’s recognition of the historical significance of the Entebbe rescue and highlights the evolving relationship between Uganda and Israel nearly five decades after the mission that captured global attention.
The monument stands at or near the location where Yoni Netanyahu was fatally wounded while leading the rescue assault.
