Day 12 - Raid on Entebbe

June 27, 1975. Air France flight 139 departing from Tel Aviv with destination Paris is hijacked just after a stopover in Athens. The aircraft will be housed at Entebbe International Airport at the invitation of Idi Amin. Palestinian and German terrorists hijacked the plane in order to obtain the liberation of a large number of Palestinian militants in addition to a large sum of money. Non-Israelites and non-Jews are soon liberated. The crew refuses to leave the remaining passengers and remains hostage. Passengers and crew are transferred from the aircraft to an empty airport building. The hijackers can count on the support of Idi Amin and his army. Days of negotiating remain unsuccessful. Israel then launches a rescue operation and on July 4th 1976 the Israeli troops land. During the famous ‘Raid on Entebbe’ the hijackers are killed and also a large part of the Ugandan soldiers who supported the hostage-takers. Fortunately, only three passengers are killed among the hostages. A triumph for the Israeli army but a defeat for Idi Amin. When Amin realized that Kenya had helped Israel in the raid, he ordered the assassination of hundreds of Kenyans in Uganda.

The military liberation operation provided enough material to put Hollywood to work. Several films about the operation were shot, of which ‘Raid on Entebbe’ is probably the best known.

Entebbe airport is still the center of rescue operations today. Humanitarian rescue operations, because the airport is home to the headquarters of the United Nations. Half of the airport is occupied by white planes, helicopters and auxiliary equipment. Entebbe provides aid to East Africa, especially to problem child East Congo.