“Happy Fourth of July! Today is also the 47th anniversary of the daring Entebbe raid. I was only five at the time, but I remember being inspired by the amazing courage of the IDF team that rescued the hostages and killed the terrorists,” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) tweeted. “I thought, ‘That’s a very Texan foreign policy.’”
Cruz shared a tweet from StandWithUs, which noted the anniversary and that the IDF rescued more than 100 Jewish and Israeli hostages in Uganda, whom Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine terrorists held. It also noted that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s brother, Yonatan (Yoni) Netanyahu—a commander of the mission—was the only Israeli casualty.
“We remember this act of heroism and sacrifice that saved so many lives,” StandWithUs wrote.
On July 4, 1976, an elite unit of Israeli commandoes carried out “Operation Thunderbolt” at Entebbe Airport in Uganda.
“Israel stunned the world 47 years ago by rescuing 102 people held hostage in Uganda by Palestinian and German terrorists,” wrote the American Jewish Committee. The European Jewish Congress added, “Let us honor the bravery of those involved, including Lt. Col. Yoni Netanyahu, who exemplified courage and heroism.”
“We remember their extraordinary courage, especially that of Lt. Col. Yoni Netanyahu, who gave his life saving others,” added B’nai B’rith International.
This was one of the boldest and bravest rescue operations ever.
— Israel ישראל (@Israel) July 4, 2023
47 years ago today, an Israeli commando squad heroically rescued 102 hostages from a French jet airliner hijacked en route from Israel to France, in a daring mission which became known as the Entebbe Raid.
On… pic.twitter.com/9J92Qdvxzp
July 4th 1976, @IDF traveled 4,000 km to hostile territory to rescue 94 Israeli passengers & 12 crew members taken hostage by terrorists at Entebbe Airport.
— מיכל קוטלר-וונש | Michal Cotler-Wunsh (@CotlerWunsh) July 4, 2023
This daring rescue mission is a reminder of imperative to stand up to terror, & mutual guarantee that is our iron dome. pic.twitter.com/qBVMyyGyie
“I must feel certain that, not only at the moment of my death shall I be able to account for the time I have lived, I ought to be ready at every moment of my life to confront myself & say - this is what I’ve done.”
— Arsen Ostrovsky (@Ostrov_A) July 4, 2023
~ Yoni Netanyahu, who died #OTD 1976, in the #Entebbe Rescue! pic.twitter.com/h9HCawzObI
