Uganda has unveiled a memorial for Lt. Col. Yonatan 'Yoni' Netanyahu at Entebbe Airport, 50 years after the 1976 Operation Entebbe hostage rescue, according to reports.
Uganda officially unveiled a memorial to Lt. Col. Yonatan 'Yoni' Netanyahu at Entebbe Airport on Saturday evening, marking the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Operation Entebbe hostage rescue. The bronze statue was placed at the historic old terminal building where Netanyahu was killed while leading the rescue mission. Uganda's military chief, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, presided over the ceremony and later released footage of the event, confirming the fulfillment of a promise he made earlier this year.
The Zioneer first reported the ceremony on Saturday (Aug 1), noting that Kainerugaba had presided and praised Netanyahu's sacrifice. A subsequent report, also published Saturday, detailed the release of footage by the Ugandan army chief. Together, these reports provide a complete account of the unveiling, which took place as part of the 50th anniversary commemorations.
The unveiling caps a series of events marking the 50th anniversary of Operation Entebbe, which included ceremonies, survivor testimonies, and the release of declassified archives, as The Zioneer reported on June 26 and throughout the anniversary period. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking at a memorial for his brother on June 21, linked the legacy of Entebbe to Israel's current security challenges, including the campaign against Iranian threats.
Kainerugaba emphasized the renewed security partnership between Uganda and Israel during the ceremony. The statue now stands as a permanent tribute at the site of one of the most daring hostage rescues in modern history.
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