This remarkable mission demonstrates the outstanding bravery and ingenuity of the IDF, but above all shows the hand of God upon His people. Israel faced a seemingly impossible logistical hurdle: projecting a massive military force into the heart of a hostile African nation.
A hostage rescue mission in an urban stronghold such as the fortified and mined pavilion at Entebbe is notoriously the most difficult and dangerous rescue mission with a very low success rate. The disastrous ‘Iron Claw’ rescue mission by the Americans to rescue embassy staff from Iran is a case in point.
The IDF planned ‘Operation Thunderbolt‘ in extreme secrecy, using intelligence gathered from previously released non-Jewish hostages, enabling them to devise this extremely high-risk operation. It is worth noting that the non-Jewish pilot and crew refused the early offer by the Ugandans to be released and stayed with the 106 Jewish hostages as a remarkable act of solidarity.
The raid at Entebbe remains arguably the greatest and most legendary counter-terrorism operations in history.
Covert Transport:
Elite commandos flew four heavily loaded C-130 Hercules aircraft in complete darkness, avoiding radar by skimming low at about 20m above the Red Sea and Africa. This was done before GPS was available or any other form of communication, encountering storms yet still arriving at the same time in darkness over Entebbe Airport. I can tell you as a pilot myself that was a miraculous event in itself.
The Decoy Convoy:
Upon landing, the commandos drove a black Mercedes complete with a Ugandan flag flying from its bonnet and Land Rovers onto the tarmac to simulate dictator Idi Amin’s presidential motorcade, aiming to bypass Ugandan sentries without raising alarms.
Exceptional Bravery:
The assault on the Entebbe airport terminal required raw courage, as commandos knowingly flew directly into heavily armed, entrenched positions.
The Element of Surprise:
The strike force relied on sheer speed and shock to neutralise the hijackers and secure the building in under an hour, which they did with outstanding success.
Ultimate Sacrifice:
The mission’s success came at a steep operational and personal cost. The assault team commander, Lt. Col. Yonatan Netanyahu, the older brother of PM Netanyahu, was fatally wounded early in the assault. Major Rami Sherman then took control and successfully completed the mission. Miraculously, Yonatan was the only casualty of the IDF, although several of the hostages were sadly caught in the crossfire but their bodies were taken back.
The raid at Entebbe remains arguably the greatest and most legendary counter-terrorism operation in history.
Enduring Legacy:
It stands as an enduring testament to the lengths a nation will go to protect its citizens; we see that spirit still today.
Major Rami Sherman visited Australia in July and recounted the heroic efforts made in the mission. He remarked that he flew to Entebbe as an Israeli and he flew home as a Jew. Rami has dedicated his life to bringing both Jews and Christians together and his tour has been supported by both Jewish and Christian organisations. He spoke widely in both churches and synagogues, bringing a message of hope and reconciliation.
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