Operation Entebbe: 50 years since the mission that changed the fight against terrorism

Half a century after one of the most audacious hostage rescue missions ever carried out, a single handwritten note preserved inside the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation offers a rare glimpse into the political decision that changed modern counterterrorism forever.

The document contains the handwritten annotations of former Israeli President and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shimon Peres during the tense hours before Operation Entebbe. Just a few words on paper, but they mark the moment when a political decision helped redefine how governments around the world would respond to terrorism.

Peres’ office remains almost exactly as he left it. Shelves packed with books, photographs alongside world leaders, and children’s drawings from his grandchildren still fill the room. It is more than the preserved office of a statesman; it is a place where history still feels alive. That legacy also lives on through the center’s work within its local neighborhood and through initiatives designed to encourage dialogue and innovation across the wider Middle East.

What was Operation Entebbe

On July 4, 1976, Israeli commandos landed at Entebbe Airport in Uganda, more than 2,500 miles from Israel, to rescue the passengers of an Air France plane hijacked by Palestinian and German terrorists. In just 53 minutes, they freed more than 100 hostages during a mission that continues to be studied at military academies across the world.

Originally known as Operation Thunderbolt, and later renamed Operation Yonatan, the raid remains one of the defining examples of long-range hostage rescue operations.

The hijacking that triggered the operation

On June 27, 1976, Air France Flight 139, traveling from Tel Aviv to Paris via Athens, was hijacked by members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and the German Revolutionary Cells. The aircraft was first diverted to Libya before eventually landing in Uganda, where dictator Idi Amin’s regime cooperated with the hijackers.

The terrorists separated Israeli and Jewish passengers from the others and demanded the release of dozens of imprisoned Palestinians in exchange for their lives. Images of passengers being selected because of their identity shocked Israel and Jewish communities around the world.

To preserve the element of surprise, Israeli forces devised an elaborate deception. After landing, commandos drove a black Mercedes resembling the one normally used by Idi Amin, accompanied by Land Rover vehicles. The convoy was intended to appear like an official presidential motorcade, buying precious minutes before the assault.

The ruse allowed Israeli troops to approach the terminal with minimal initial resistance, contributing to the success of an operation that rescued more than 100 hostages in less than an hour.

Behind the scenes, another secret mission had already laid the groundwork. Months before Entebbe, Eli Engel, the Mossad station chief in Kenya, led Operation Heartburn, which dismantled a terrorist plot in Nairobi to shoot down an El Al airliner using portable missiles.

That operation helped establish relationships with Kenyan security officials that proved invaluable during the Entebbe crisis. Engel transformed his own home into a covert command center and secured Kenya’s logistical support, allowing Israeli aircraft to refuel, treat wounded personnel, and safely evacuate after the rescue.

The crucial role of Shimon Peres

Although Lt. Col. Yonatan Netanyahu is often remembered as the face of Operation Entebbe, the political driving force behind the mission was then-Defense Minister Shimon Peres.

Historical accounts consistently describe Peres as the strongest advocate for military action instead of negotiating with the hijackers. Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin remained cautious because of the enormous risks involved in sending forces thousands of miles into hostile territory.

Peres pushed military planners forward, authorized preparations by the Israel Defense Forces, and backed commanders who believed the rescue could succeed.

The operation highlights a lesser-known side of the Nobel Peace Prize winner’s legacy: the leader who approved one of the boldest military operations of the modern era.

Who was Yonatan Netanyahu?

Yonatan “Yoni” Netanyahu served as lieutenant colonel and commander of the elite Sayeret Matkal special forces unit. He led the assault team that stormed the terminal building to rescue the hostages.

He was also the older brother of current Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Yonatan Netanyahu was the only Israeli soldier killed during the operation. Five other Israeli troops were wounded but survived. All seven hijackers were killed, along with dozens of Ugandan soldiers who engaged Israeli forces. Three hostages died during the firefight, while a fourth hostage, Dora Bloch, was later murdered by Idi Amin’s regime after she had been taken to a hospital in Kampala.

Following his death, the mission was officially renamed Operation Yonatan in his honor. Many historians believe his death profoundly shaped Benjamin Netanyahu’s later political outlook.

Why Operation Entebbe still matters half a century later

Operation Entebbe continues to resonate for three major reasons.

First, it fundamentally reshaped counterterrorism doctrine. Western governments began studying Israel’s model for long-range hostage rescue operations, and Entebbe became a benchmark for elite special forces around the world.

Second, the mission had a lasting impact on Israeli politics. The death of Yoni Netanyahu became an important part of Benjamin Netanyahu’s personal and political story, helping shape his views on national security, terrorism, and hostage recovery throughout his career.

Finally, the operation has taken on renewed significance since Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attacks. Entebbe has repeatedly been invoked by commentators, military analysts, and relatives of Israeli hostages as a symbol of the state’s responsibility to do everything possible to bring captured citizens home.

As Israel approaches national elections in October, the legacy of Entebbe—and the questions it raises about leadership, risk, and the use of military force—once again hangs over the country’s political debate.

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