Israeli PM Netanyahu Mourns Brother Killed by Sniper

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s controversial stance on Palestine’s existence stems from a lifelong family tragedy: the death of his brother, Yonatan ‘Yoni’ Netanyahu, who was shot by a sniper while leading Israel’s most historic hostage rescue operation. According to Britannica, the operation began on 27 June 1976 when Air France Flight 139, en route from Tel Aviv to Paris, was hijacked during a stopover in Athens. Four hijackers were involved: two affiliated with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and the others from Germany. They demanded the release of 50 Palestinian militants imprisoned in Israel, threatening to kill all hostages otherwise. The hijackers then diverted the plane to Entebbe Airport in Uganda. There, Uganda’s government under Idi Amin’s regime protected the hijackers with the support of Ugandan troops, and the hostages were held at Entebbe International Airport. In response, Israel’s military launched a daring operation with special forces led by Yoni. According to Times of Israel, on the night of 4 July 1976, Yoni’s elite Sayeret Matkal unit was flown thousands of kilometres to Uganda in Hercules aircraft. The enemy was unaware of the elite forces’ movement until Israeli troops breached the terminal and engaged in gunfire. After hours of firefight, all hijackers were killed and 102 of 106 hostages rescued. However, during the critical moment, tragedy struck. As Yoni ran towards the hostages’ location, a Ugandan sniper fired, hitting him in the chest and causing him to collapse near the terminal. Medical teams rushed to aid him, but his wounds were too severe. He could not be saved. History records Yoni as the sole Israeli soldier killed in the operation. Yoni’s death left such a profound impact that the Entebbe operation is now also known as Operation Yonatan, in honour of his bravery. His brother’s death deeply affected Benjamin Netanyahu, who mourned for a long time before returning to Israel to establish an anti-terrorism foundation in Yoni’s name. ‘My brother’s death changed my life and directed me down the path I am on today,’ the Israeli prime minister told Newsweek. Following Yoni’s death, Netanyahu became known for his hardline stance on security and terrorism, a defining feature of his leadership in Israel to this day.