Entebbe Hijacking 1976: New Archives Reveal the Truth
Israeli special forces rescued 102 hostages from Entebbe Airport in Uganda during Operation “Thunderbolt” on the night of July 3-4, 1976. The mission ended a seven-day hijacking of Air-France Flight AF 139 by two Germans and two Palestinians, resulting in the deaths of seven terrorists and mission commander Yonathan Netanjahu, according to archival records.
How did the hijacking of AF 139 unfold?
Air-France Flight AF 139, an Airbus A 300 with the registration F-BVGG, departed Tel Aviv on June 27, 1976. After picking up 59 passengers in Athens, two Germans in first class and two Palestinians in tourist class seized control of the aircraft shortly after takeoff.
The hijackers, armed with pistols and egg grenades, forced Captain Michel Bacos to fly to Benghazi, Libya, under the call sign “Haifa One.” After a seven-hour stay, the group’s German leader ordered the plane to fly to Entebbe, Uganda, where it landed on June 28 at 3:15 p.m. local time.
According to archival documents, the terrorists forced passengers and crew into the tourist class, searched hand luggage, and confiscated passports. The group demanded the release of six left-wing terrorists from West German prisons, among other prisoners.
What were the diplomatic responses from Germany and Israel?
The German Federal Ministry of the Interior established a crisis team in Bonn that met at least twice daily. Records show the government struggled with a conflict between its 1975 policy of never yielding to terrorist demands and the humanitarian risk of hostage deaths.
A June 30 “event memo” indicates that Israel and Switzerland maintained a “hard” stance, while the U.S. position was still being communicated via Special Advisor Sonnenfeld. German officials feared a scenario where France and the U.S. would pressure Germany to yield while Israel remained firm.
On July 1, Israel’s Ambassador in Bonn, Yohanan Meroz, informed the Foreign Office that Israel was prepared to release prisoners to save the remaining 105 hostages. Archival records suggest this was a ruse to buy time for a military rescue, a move suspected by Ulrich Wegener, who acted as a one-man reconnaissance unit in Uganda.
Why were the actions of the hijackers categorized as antisemitic?
Archival materials from the Foreign Office and passenger reports confirm that hijackers Brigitte Kuhlmann and Winfried Böse separated Israelis and Jews from non-Jewish hostages. Non-Jewish passengers were eventually released in two waves.
Documents reveal that U.S. citizens George and Renee Karfunkel were detained specifically because of their Jewish names. Kuhlmann also physically assaulted an orthodox Jew, and Holocaust survivors among the hostages reported that the selection process mirrored the SS selections at Auschwitz.
These facts contrast with later claims by left-wing authors who denied the presence of antisemitism during the event. Records indicate that the hijackers were driven by a deep-seated hatred of Jews, a motif later seen in the 1991 attack by RAF member Horst-Ludwig Meyer on a bus of Jewish emigrants in Budapest.
What could happen in similar future crises?
Analysis of these archival records suggests that future hostage situations may continue to trigger friction between allied nations regarding “hard line” policies versus humanitarian concessions. A possible next step in such crises could involve increased reliance on covert reconnaissance, similar to the role played by Ulrich Wegener.
The precedent set by Operation Thunderbolt indicates that military interventions may be favored when diplomatic ruses can successfully mask operational preparations. However, the risk of casualties among both special forces and hostages remains a primary deterrent in scenario planning.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who were the primary hijackers of Flight AF 139? The hijacking was led by two Germans, Winfried Böse and Brigitte Kuhlmann, and two Palestinians.
- What was the outcome of Operation Thunderbolt? Israeli forces freed 102 hostages. Three hostages died in the firefight, alongside seven terrorists and the mission commander, Yonathan Netanjahu.
- Where did the hijacked plane eventually land? After a brief stop in Benghasi, Libya, the aircraft landed at Entebbe Airport in Uganda under the rule of Idi Amin.
Do you believe diplomatic ruses are a necessary tool in resolving international hostage crises?