Operation Entebbe facts for kids
Operation Entebbe, also known as Operation Jonathan, was a daring mission to save people held against their will. This happened in July 1976 in Entebbe, Uganda. An Air France airplane was taken over by a group of people on June 27, 1976. These people, called terrorists, wanted certain prisoners to be set free from jails in Israel and four other countries.
Many of the people on the plane, called hostages, were later let go. But about 100 Israelis and Jews were still held. Israeli forces then made a secret plan to rescue the remaining 106 passengers. The rescue mission happened on July 4, 1976. In the end, 102 of the passengers were saved. Lt Col Yonatan Netanyahu led the brave mission. He was the only rescuer who died during the operation.
Contents
Understanding the Hijacking Event
What Happened to the Plane?
On June 27, 1976, an Air France plane was flying from Tel Aviv, Israel, to Paris, France. It had 248 passengers and 12 crew members. After a stop in Athens, Greece, the plane was taken over by four hijackers. Two of them were from a Palestinian group. The other two were from a German group. They forced the plane to fly to Entebbe, Uganda.
Why Were the Hostages Taken?
The hijackers wanted to trade the hostages for 53 prisoners. These prisoners were held in Israel and other countries. They threatened to harm the hostages if their demands were not met. The plane landed at Entebbe International Airport. Here, the hijackers were joined by more people. They were also helped by soldiers from Uganda.
The Hostages' Difficult Time
Life Inside the Terminal
The hostages were kept in an old airport terminal building. The hijackers separated the passengers. They let most of the non-Israeli and non-Jewish passengers go free. This left about 100 Israeli and Jewish hostages. They also kept the Air France crew members. The crew bravely chose to stay with the remaining passengers.
Uganda's Role in the Crisis
Idi Amin, who was the leader of Uganda at the time, supported the hijackers. He visited the hostages and pretended to help. But he was actually working with the hijackers. This made the situation very hard for the hostages. They were held in a hot, crowded building.
Planning the Secret Rescue Mission
Israel's Difficult Choice
The Israeli government faced a tough decision. They could try to negotiate with the hijackers. Or they could attempt a dangerous rescue. They decided to plan a secret military operation. This was because they feared for the lives of the hostages. The mission had to be fast and very precise.
Gathering Important Information
Israeli intelligence, like the Mossad, worked quickly. They gathered information about the airport. They learned about the number of hijackers and Ugandan soldiers. They also found out where the hostages were kept. This information was vital for planning the attack. They even used details from the hostages who had been released.
The Brave Rescue Operation
Flying to Entebbe in Secret
On July 3, 1976, four Israeli C-130 Hercules transport planes took off. They flew over 2,500 miles (4,000 km) to Uganda. They flew very low to avoid being seen by radar. The planes carried Israeli commandos. These were highly trained special forces soldiers.
The Surprise Attack at Night
The planes landed at Entebbe Airport in the dark. The commandos quickly moved towards the old terminal building. They used a black Mercedes-Benz car. It looked like Idi Amin's car. This helped them surprise the guards. The raid began just after midnight on July 4, 1976.
Saving the Hostages
The Israeli soldiers stormed the terminal. They quickly fought the hijackers and Ugandan soldiers. The battle was short but intense. The commandos shouted in Hebrew and English for the hostages to lie down. This helped them tell the hostages apart from the hijackers. Within minutes, the hijackers were defeated.
The Outcome of the Mission
The rescue was a huge success. Most of the hostages were saved. Three hostages died during the fighting. One hostage, Dora Bloch, was later killed by Ugandan soldiers in a hospital. Lt Col Yonatan Netanyahu, the mission leader, was killed by a Ugandan sniper. He was the only Israeli commando to die. The Israeli forces also destroyed Ugandan fighter jets on the ground. This stopped them from chasing the rescue planes.
After the Rescue
Returning Home Safely
The rescued hostages and the commandos quickly boarded the planes. They flew to Nairobi, Kenya, to refuel. Then they continued their journey back to Israel. The return was filled with joy and relief. The mission showed the world that Israel would go to great lengths to protect its citizens.
A Famous Military Operation
Operation Entebbe became one of the most famous hostage rescue missions in history. It showed incredible planning, courage, and skill. It is still studied today as an example of a successful special forces operation.
Images for kids
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Aerial photo of the city of Entebbe and the Entebbe International Airport at sunset
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A 1994 photograph of the old terminal with a U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules parked in front. Bullet holes from the 1976 raid are still visible.
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Rescued passengers welcomed at Ben Gurion Airport
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Members of family pay last respects to Dora Bloch, 75, after she was murdered by officers of the Ugandan army.
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The old control tower as seen from the front
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Close up of the control tower
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The old terminal building as it appeared in 2009
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Wall plaque on display at the old terminal building
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The old terminal building of the Entebbe International Airport as seen from the air
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See also
In Spanish: Operación Entebbe para niños
