Entebbe Rescue: How Israel Outsmarted Hijackers

Summary

In a daring act of defiance, four terrorists hijacked Air France Flight 139 on June 27, 1976, rerouting it to Entebbe, Uganda, with over 246 passengers, predominantly Jewish Israelis. The hijackers, a mix of Palestinian Liberation Front and German Revolutionary Cells members, demanded the release of imprisoned militants. Uganda's President Idi Amin appeared to mediate but was complicit. Israel, after extensive planning and rejecting initial rescue concepts, launched "Operation Thunderbolt." On July 3rd, over 100 Israeli commandos, disguised in fake military vehicles, landed near Entebbe airport under the cover of darkness. In a lightning-fast assault, they stormed the old terminal, neutralized seven hijackers, and rescued 102 hostages in just 30 minutes, though three hostages and the operation's leader, Yoni Netanyahu, were killed. This legendary rescue cemented Israel's resolve and significantly boosted Benjamin Netanyahu's later political career.