Air France Flight 139

Operation Entebbe
Company type	Military operation
Industry	Counter-terrorism, Military
Founded	1976
Headquarters	Entebbe, Uganda
Area served	Uganda
Key people	Yonatan Netanyahu, Yekutiel Adam, Dan Shomron
Products	Hostage rescue operation

The Entebbe raid, also referred to as Operation Entebbe and officially designated Operation Thunderbolt (later renamed Operation Yonatan), was a 1976 Israeli counter-terrorism mission carried out in Uganda. This operation was launched in response to the hijacking of an Airbus A300 aircraft operated by Air France on a flight between Tel Aviv and Paris. The hijacking was executed by members of the Palestinian PFLP–EO alongside German militants from the RZ, who redirected the plane to Uganda, where they received assistance from Ugandan dictator Idi Amin.

On 27 June, the hijackers took control of 248 passengers, demanding the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel and other nations. More than 100 Ugandan soldiers supported the hijackers upon their arrival, with Amin personally greeting them. Hostages were segregated based on nationality; most non-Israeli captives were freed within two days, whereas 94 passengers, predominantly Israelis, along with the 12 crew members, remained detained.

Israeli officials deliberated between pursuing negotiations or mounting a military rescue. Utilizing intelligence gathered by Mossad, Israel initiated a rescue mission prepared to confront Amin’s forces. On 3 July 1976, Israeli commandos traveled over 4,000 kilometers to Uganda. During a swift 90-minute operation, they freed 102 hostages; three hostages lost their lives during the assault, including Dora Bloch, who was subsequently killed by Ugandan authorities after being hospitalized.

The mission resulted in a single Israeli casualty: Yonatan Netanyahu, commander of Sayeret Matkal and elder brother of future Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. All hijackers were neutralized along with 45 Ugandan soldiers; additionally, 11 Ugandan MiG fighter jets were destroyed. Kenya played a supportive role during the mission. In retaliation, Amin ordered the massacre of Kenyans residing in Uganda, resulting in at least 245 deaths and forcing approximately 3,000 Kenyans to flee the country.

Hijacking

On 27 June 1976, Air France Flight 139, an Airbus A300B4-203 bearing registration F-BVGG, departed from Tel Aviv with 246 passengers—mostly Israelis—and 12 crew members on board. The flight made a stopover in Athens, Greece, where it picked up an additional 58 passengers, including four hijackers. Shortly after departing Athens, the aircraft was seized by two Palestinians affiliated with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine – External Operations (PFLP-EO), Jayel al-Arja and Fayez Abdul-Rahim al Jaber, together with two Germans, Wilfried Böse and Brigitte Kuhlmann, members of the German Revolutionary Cells.

The hijacked plane was first redirected to Benghazi, Libya, where it remained grounded for seven hours to refuel. During this interval, British-born Israeli passenger Patricia Martell was released after pretending to suffer a miscarriage. The flight then continued to Entebbe International Airport in Uganda, arriving at approximately 3:15 pm on 28 June—more than 24 hours after its initial departure.

Situation at Uganda's Entebbe International Airport

Upon arrival at Entebbe, the original four hijackers were joined by at least four additional accomplices supported by forces loyal to Ugandan president Idi Amin. The captors moved the hostages into the transit hall of an unused terminal building and kept them under armed guard. Amin made near-daily visits and pledged efforts toward negotiating their release.

On 28 June, one of the PFLP-EO hijackers issued demands that included a ransom payment of US$5 million and the liberation of 53 Palestinian and pro-Palestinian detainees—40 of whom were imprisoned in Israel. They threatened to commence killing hostages starting on 1 July if their conditions were not met.

Separation of Hostages

On 29 June, following a breach in the wall by Ugandan troops, the hijackers divided the hostages by isolating Israelis (including those with dual nationality) and relocating them to a nearby room. Assertions that this division was solely due to Jewish identity contradict eyewitness testimonies and were subsequently refuted by former captives as misconceptions or media distortions. A Holocaust survivor revealed a camp tattoo to hijacker Wilfried Böse, who responded by claiming he was "an idealist," not aligned with Nazi ideology.

Five hostages who were not Israeli—comprising two ultra-Orthodox Jewish couples from the United States and Belgium, along with a French resident living in Israel—were placed together with the Israeli group, presumably because they concealed their Israeli nationality. Several Israelis holding dual citizenship who carried foreign passports went unidentified and were released later alongside non-Israeli detainees. Additionally, individuals such as US citizen Janet Almog and French-Israeli dual national Jean-Jacques Mimouni reportedly chose to join the Israeli hostages voluntarily.

Release of Most Non-Israeli Hostages

On 30 June, the hijackers freed 48 hostages, predominantly elderly individuals, those ill, and mothers accompanied by children from the non-Israeli contingent. Forty-seven of these were transported by a chartered Air France Boeing 747 flight from Entebbe to Paris; one required brief hospitalization. Following Israel’s agreement to engage in negotiations on 1 July, the hijackers extended their deadline until noon on 4 July and released an additional 100 non-Israeli captives, who were also flown to Paris. Among the 106 remaining hostages at Entebbe were 12 members of the Air France crew who declined to depart, approximately ten young French passengers, and around 84 Israelis.

Diplomatic Efforts

In the days leading up to the rescue operation, Israel pursued diplomatic avenues aimed at securing the hostages’ freedom. Reports indicate that the Israeli cabinet was prepared to release Palestinian prisoners if a military intervention appeared unviable. Baruch "Burka" Bar-Lev, a retired IDF officer with personal ties to Ugandan leader Idi Amin, made repeated phone calls on behalf of the cabinet but was unsuccessful in obtaining any concessions. Israel also requested that the United States government encourage Egyptian President Anwar Sadat to persuade Amin to free the captives. Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Defense Minister Shimon Peres engaged in discussions weighing whether to comply with hijacker demands (Rabin’s position) or maintain a firm stance to discourage future terrorism (Peres’s view).

When the initial deadline arrived on 1 July, Israel proposed extending negotiations until 4 July—a proposal Amin accepted. This extension allowed Amin time for a diplomatic visit to Port Louis, Mauritius, where he transferred leadership of the Organisation of African Unity to Seewoosagur Ramgoolam. The additional time proved crucial for Israeli forces to organize their rescue plan.

At 18:30 on 3 July, Israel’s cabinet authorized a rescue operation put forward by Major General Yekutiel Adam and Brigadier General Dan Shomron, who was designated as commander of the mission.

Egyptian–PLO engagement and diplomatic breakdown

Throughout the crisis, Egypt under President Sadat sought to mediate between the PLO and Uganda. PLO leader Yasser Arafat sent his envoy, Hani al-Hassan, to Uganda with the mission of negotiating with both the hostage takers and Amin; however, the hijackers declined to hold discussions with him.

Israel's strategic military planning

As diplomatic efforts faltered, Israel decided on a military intervention. The lead pilot, Lt. Col. Joshua Shani, disclosed an initial concept involving naval commandos crossing Lake Victoria to attack the airport directly. This strategy was later discarded due to limited time and the danger posed by Nile crocodiles.

Intelligence officer Amnon Biran highlighted that information about the airport’s design, hostage placements, and possible explosives was scarce.

Aircraft refueling logistics

One of the major operational hurdles was refueling the Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft during its flight to Entebbe. Israel did not possess aerial refueling capabilities for such a long-range mission and required cooperation from East African nations. Although Kenya expressed sympathy, no country initially consented to allow Israeli landings.

Eventually, Israel obtained clearance from Kenya to traverse its airspace and refuel at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. This arrangement was made possible through support from Agriculture Minister Bruce MacKenzie and President Jomo Kenyatta. MacKenzie’s backing came after contacts orchestrated by Britain's MI6 chief Sir Maurice Oldfield. Furthermore, Kenyan Jewish and Israeli business figures likely played a role in persuading Kenyatta.

Ugandan ambassador to Lesotho, Isaac Lumago, overheard Kenyan officers discussing Israeli compensation for their assistance and reported this to Ugandan commander Isaac Maliyamungu. Maliyamungu dismissed the intelligence as untrustworthy and failed to inform Amin. Contrarily, Amin’s son claimed that Lumago warned the president by phone, prompting Amin to cut short his attendance at an OAU meeting. A former agent suggested Amin feared repercussions if his forces confronted Israeli troops, allegedly instructing them not to engage Israeli aircraft during the operation.

Mossad intelligence gathering

Mossad acquired detailed knowledge regarding the hostages’ whereabouts, the number of hijackers, and Ugandan military involvement, relying on information from hostages freed in Paris. Israeli companies, including construction firm Solel Boneh, which had built the terminal where hostages were confined, supported military planners by sharing valuable insights. The IDF also constructed a partial replica of the airport terminal to facilitate mission rehearsal.

IDF Major Muki Betser remarked that Mossad conducted thorough interviews with released hostages. Among them was a French-Jewish passenger with military training and an exceptional memory who provided precise details about the hijackers’ armaments.

Ground task force

The Israeli ground unit consisted of approximately 100 soldiers arranged as follows:

Command and control on ground

This element was led by Brigadier General Dan Shomron and comprised the operation commander, Air Force liaison Colonel Ami Ayalon, along with communications and support personnel.

Assault Operation

A 29-member assault team from Sayeret Matkal, led by Lt. Col. Yonatan Netanyahu, was assigned the mission of storming the old terminal and freeing the hostages. Following Netanyahu’s death, command of the assault unit was assumed by Major Betser.

Security Forces

The Paratroopers, commanded by Colonel Matan Vilnai, were responsible for securing the airport grounds, including runways, and safeguarding Israeli aircraft.
Under Colonel Uri Sagi, the Golani secured the C-130 Hercules aircraft designated for evacuation and acted as a reserve force.
A Sayeret Matkal detachment led by Major Shaul Mofaz cleared the military runway, destroyed stationary MiG jets to prevent interception by Ugandan Air Force planes, and defended against enemy ground forces within Entebbe.

Approach Route

The operation commenced from Sharm el-Sheikh, with the task force flying at low altitude over the Red Sea to evade radar detection from Egyptian, Sudanese, and Saudi defenses. Near the southern exit of the Red Sea, the C-130 aircraft veered south into Ethiopian airspace, bypassed Djibouti, and then proceeded northeast over Nairobi, Kenya. They continued westward through the African Rift Valley and passed over Lake Victoria.

Two Boeing 707 jets accompanied the force: one carrying medical personnel landed at Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, while the other, with operation commander General Yekutiel Adam aboard, remained in orbit above Entebbe Airport throughout the raid.

Israeli troops arrived at Entebbe on 3 July at 23:00 IST with cargo doors open. Due to limited familiarity with the airfield’s layout, the lead plane nearly veered into a ditch while taxiing. To bypass security checkpoints, soldiers used a black Mercedes resembling President Idi Amin’s car along with accompanying Land Rovers to imitate Amin’s convoy approaching the terminal. However, two Ugandan guards noticed that Amin had recently switched to a white Mercedes and ordered them to halt. Disregarding orders to avoid engagement, commandos silently eliminated these sentries to prevent alerting hijackers prematurely. As they advanced quickly toward the terminal, an Israeli commando fired shots from an unsuppressed rifle in a trailing Land Rover.

Hostage Liberation

Leaving their vehicles behind, Israeli commandos swiftly entered the terminal where hostages were confined in the main hall near the runway. They announced their presence in both Hebrew and English, instructing hostages to remain on the ground. Unfortunately, Jean-Jacques Maimoni, a 19-year-old French immigrant, was accidentally shot by commandos mistaking him for a hijacker. Two additional hostages—Pasco Cohen and Ida Borochovitch—also lost their lives during the operation; one due to crossfire and another killed by a hijacker.

Hostage Ilan Hartuv recalled that hijacker Wilfried Böse briefly threatened captives with a rifle but soon ordered them to take cover before being killed by Israeli forces. Böse reportedly fired only at Israeli soldiers.

When questioned about other hijackers still present, hostages directed commandos to an adjoining door where grenades were thrown and three hijackers were subsequently shot dead, ending the assault phase. Meanwhile, further C-130 Hercules aircraft delivered armored personnel carriers for protection during refueling stops. Israeli forces proceeded to destroy Ugandan MiG fighter jets to prevent any aerial pursuit and conducted a thorough sweep of the airfield to collect intelligence.

Departure

During the extraction, Israeli commandos loaded the hostages while coming under fire from Ugandan troops stationed partly in the airport control tower. The commandos responded with gunfire, causing casualties among the Ugandan forces. In the course of this exchange, at least five commandos sustained injuries, and the unit leader, Yonatan Netanyahu, was fatally wounded. Israeli soldiers suppressed Ugandan resistance using light machine guns and a rocket-propelled grenade. According to a member of Idi Amin's family, the soldier responsible for shooting Netanyahu—a relative of the Amin clan—was subsequently killed by return fire. After completing the evacuation, the commandos placed Netanyahu’s body on a plane and took off. The entire mission lasted 53 minutes, with the assault itself occupying 30 minutes. All seven hijackers and 45 Ugandan soldiers lost their lives. Additionally, 11 Soviet-made MiG-17 and MiG-21 fighter jets belonging to the Uganda Army Air Force were destroyed on the tarmac at Entebbe Airport. Among the 106 hostages, three died during the operation, one (74-year-old Dora Bloch) was left behind in Uganda, and roughly ten were injured. The remaining 102 rescued hostages were flown to Israel via Nairobi shortly after the raid.

Ugandan reaction

Idi Amin responded with intense anger to the raid, claiming he could have defeated the Israeli forces if he had been given advance notice. In the aftermath, Maliyamungu arrested 14 soldiers suspected of collaborating with Israel; 12 of these were executed at Makindye Barracks. Uganda Army Chief of Staff Mustafa Adrisi reportedly sought to either imprison or execute Godwin Sule, commander of Entebbe Air Base, due to his absence during the attack. Sule had left early on 4 July to meet an acquaintance at Lake Victoria Hotel. Despite Adrisi’s efforts, Sule’s close relationship with President Amin protected him from punishment.

Murder of Dora Bloch

Dora Bloch, a dual Israeli-British citizen aged 74, had been hospitalized at Mulago Hospital in Kampala after choking on a chicken bone. Following the raid, she was killed by officers of the Uganda Army along with some medical personnel who reportedly tried to intervene. Confidential sources revealed that she was shot and her body was abandoned in a vehicle bearing Ugandan intelligence plates. In 1987, Uganda’s then Minister of Justice, Henry Kyemba, confirmed that Bloch had been forcibly removed from her hospital bed and executed on Amin’s orders. Her remains were found near Kampala in 1979 after Amin’s regime ended with the Uganda–Tanzania War.

Idi Amin's anti-Kenyan crackdown

In retaliation for Kenya’s support of Israel during the raid, Amin ordered a brutal crackdown against Kenyans in Uganda, including airport employees at Entebbe. Around 245 Kenyans were killed in this purge, leading approximately 3,000 to flee as refugees.

On 24 May 1978, Bruce MacKenzie, Kenya’s former agriculture minister, died when a bomb detonated on his plane shortly after a meeting with Amin. Some accounts attribute this assassination to Ugandan agents acting under Amin’s directive as retribution for Kenya’s role in the raid and MacKenzie’s previous activities; other theories propose different motives or targets. In tribute to MacKenzie’s memory, Mossad Chief Director Meir Amit later planted a forest in Israel bearing his name.

United Nations

On 9 July 1976, the United Nations Security Council considered a grievance submitted by the Organization of African Unity, which accused Israel of committing an "act of aggression." Both Israel's representative, Chaim Herzog, and Uganda's foreign minister, Juma Oris Abdalla, took part in the discussions but did not have voting privileges. UN Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim denounced the raid as a grave infringement on Uganda's sovereignty, while also recognizing the complexities involved in addressing international terrorism. Abdalla asserted that the conflict was approaching a peaceful conclusion prior to Israel’s intervention, whereas Herzog charged Uganda with complicity in the hijacking. A resolution proposed by the US and UK, condemning hijackings and urging respect for national sovereignty without directly blaming either side, failed to pass due to abstentions and non-participation. Another resolution condemning Israel, introduced by Benin, Libya, and Tanzania, was never brought to a vote.

Western Bloc

The majority of Western countries expressed support for the raid. West Germany described it as "an act of self-defense," while Switzerland and France commended the operation. Both the UK and US praised the mission as "a nearly impossible endeavor," with some American commentators noting its timing coinciding with the bicentennial of US independence. However, Henry Kissinger privately criticized Israel’s use of American-supplied equipment during the operation. In response to threats from Uganda, a US supercarrier was deployed off Kenya’s coast following the raid.

Captain Michel Bacos, pilot of the hijacked plane, was honored with the Legion of Honour, and crew members received France’s Order of Merit. In later years, veterans such as Betser and the Netanyahu brothers engaged in public debates over tactical choices that contributed to Yonatan Netanyahu’s death.

The operation shaped US military doctrine by inspiring elite rescue units modeled after the Entebbe team. This influence was evident in subsequent missions like the unsuccessful 1980 Operation Eagle Claw during the Iran hostage crisis.

In a letter dated 13 July 1976, Iran’s Imperial Armed Forces expressed admiration for Israeli commandos and expressed sorrow over Netanyahu’s demise.

The hijacked Air France aircraft F-BVGG was restored and returned to active service. It was later leased to Vietnam Airlines in 1996, converted into a cargo plane, transferred between several operators, stored in Istanbul from 2009 onward, and ultimately dismantled in 2020.

Palestinian bombing of Kenya's Norfolk Hotel in Nairobi

On 31 December 1980, The Norfolk Hotel in Nairobi—owned by a notable figure within the local Jewish community—was targeted in a bombing attack. The explosion demolished much of the hotel, resulting in 20 fatalities from multiple nationalities and injuring 87 others. This assault was widely interpreted as retaliation by pro-Palestinian militants against Kenya for its role supporting Operation Entebbe.

Commemorations

In August 2012, Uganda and Israel jointly organized a commemorative event at the former terminal tower where Yonatan Netanyahu lost his life, reaffirming their shared dedication to fighting terrorism and advancing humanitarian values. The ceremony featured wreath-laying, speeches, poetry recitations, and the display of Ugandan and Israeli flags side by side, symbolizing the close relationship between the two nations. Among those present were Ugandan State Minister for Animal Industry Bright Rwamirama and Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Daniel Ayalon, who participated in the wreath-laying. Four decades following the rescue operation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu—Yonatan Netanyahu’s brother—traveled to Entebbe with a delegation to enhance ties between Israel and sub-Saharan African countries.

Documentaries

Operation Thunderbolt: Entebbe, a documentary recounting the hijacking and subsequent rescue mission.
Rise and Fall of Idi Amin (1980), a biographical film that includes the raid and presents a distinctive depiction of Amin's response.
Rescue at Entebbe, Episode 12 in Michael Greenspan’s 2005 series Against All Odds: Israel Survives.
Cohen on the Bridge (2010), directed by Andrew Wainrib, featuring interviews with surviving commandos and hostages.
Live or Die in Entebbe (2012), directed by Eyal Boers, follows Yonatan Khayat as he investigates his uncle Jean-Jacques Maimoni’s death during the operation.
"Assault on Entebbe," an episode from the National Geographic Channel series Critical Situation.
Operation Thunderbolt, episode five of the 2012 Military Channel series Black Ops.

Dramatizations

Victory at Entebbe (1976): starring Anthony Hopkins, Burt Lancaster, Elizabeth Taylor, and Richard Dreyfuss, directed by Marvin J. Chomsky.
Raid on Entebbe (1977): featuring performances by Peter Finch, Charles Bronson, and James Woods, under the direction of Irvin Kershner.
Operation Thunderbolt (1977): with Yehoram Gaon portraying Col. Netanyahu, alongside Sybil Danning and Klaus Kinski as hijackers, directed by Menahem Golan.
The Last King of Scotland (2006): incorporates the raid within its narrative about Idi Amin’s rule.
Entebbe (2018), directed by José Padilha.

Films inspired by Operation Entebbe

The Delta Force (1986) depicts a hostage rescue mission influenced by Operation Entebbe.
Zameen (2003), a Bollywood production starring Ajay Devgan and Abhishek Bachchan, portrays an Indian airliner hijacking by Pakistani militants with a rescue plan modeled after Operation Entebbe.

Other media

Operation Thunderbolt, a 1988 arcade game loosely based on Operation Entebbe set within a fictional context.
To Pay the Price, a 2009 theatrical play written by Peter-Adrian Cohen, inspired by Yonatan Netanyahu’s letters. Produced by Theatre Or in North Carolina, it premiered off-off Broadway during New York’s Festival of Jewish Theater and Ideas.

External links

Live or Die in Entebbe Trailer
, National Geographic clip, 4 minutes
video with reenactment, 9 minutes
documentary, 9 minutes; , 10 minutes
, comprehensive, 44 minutes
Israel’s Entebbe operation nearly ended in failure, Daily Telegraph article by Saul David
Entebbe: Turning Point of Terrorism featured in Strategy and Tactics, No. 232, Jan/Feb 2006
BBC Article and Videos – 4 July 1976: Israeli hostages rescued at Entebbe
BBC: Commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Entebbe raid
BBC Age of Terror – Episode 1: Terror International
Operation Entebbe procedures, Ynetnews 5 November 2010 – transcripts from Israeli Cabinet discussions