Uganda's military unveiled a bronze statue honoring Yonatan Netanyahu at Entebbe Airport [1], [3].
The monument serves as a diplomatic gesture to symbolize renewed ties between Uganda and Israel while commemorating a soldier who died during a high-profile military operation on Ugandan soil.
Yonatan Netanyahu, the older brother of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was killed during the 1976 [1] Entebbe hostage rescue. The bronze [3] sculpture was created by Israeli artist Itay Zalait [4].
Ugandan military officials organized the unveiling in 2024 [1]. The ceremony took place at the site of the original rescue mission, marking 50 years [2] since the event occurred.
An unnamed Ugandan army chief said, "The monument is a symbol of courage and renewed Uganda‑Israel ties" [5]. Another report said the army chief said, "My God Jesus Christ instructed me to build this statue during a dream" [6].
The installation of the monument at the airport is intended to serve as a permanent reminder of the 1976 [1] mission and the sacrifice of the Israeli commander. The project involved collaboration between Israeli artists and Ugandan military leadership to ensure the memorial's placement at the historic site.
“The monument is a symbol of courage and renewed Uganda‑Israel ties.”
The installation of a permanent memorial to an Israeli soldier in Uganda marks a significant shift in diplomatic relations. By honoring a figure from a 1976 military raid that occurred during a period of intense regional instability, Uganda is leveraging historical military memory to strengthen contemporary political and security bonds with Israel.
