Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has again thanked Uganda for erecting a statue of his late brother, Yonatan “Yoni” Netanyahu, at Entebbe Airport.
“I want to thank Uganda again for recently erecting the statue of Yoni in the place where he fell,” Netanyahu said while speaking at the 2026 United Nations General Assembly. He linked his brother’s words to Israel’s current conflict: “We are going to win. We have no other choice.”
Yoni Netanyahu led the Israeli force that raided Entebbe Airport in 1976 to rescue passengers held hostage aboard a hijacked Air France plane. He was killed during the operation.
Netanyahu first welcomed the memorial after its unveiling on August 1, 2026, at the Old Entebbe Airport terminal. He described his brother as a symbol of courage and devotion to Israel.
“Fifty years have passed, but his spirit continues to inspire in Israel and around the world,” he said.
Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, unveiled the statue. He said it honoured courage, duty and the protection of innocent lives. He also pledged closer cooperation between Uganda and Israel in security, innovation and development.
Barak Orland, who spoke at the ceremony, thanked Gen Kainerugaba for supporting the memorial. He said it reflected the bond between the two countries.
