Israel is set to commemorate Lt. Col. Yonatan "Yoni" Netanyahu at a national aviation heritage center, honoring the legacy of the fallen military hero who commanded the legendary 1976 Entebbe rescue operation.

The tribute will recognize Netanyahu's pivotal role in one of the most daring hostage rescue missions in modern military history. As commander of the elite Sayeret Matkal special forces unit, Netanyahu led the operation that freed 102 hostages held by terrorists at Uganda's Entebbe Airport on July 4, 1976.

Netanyahu was the only Israeli military fatality during the mission, which became known as Operation Thunderbolt and later renamed Operation Yonatan in his honor. The 30-year-old officer was killed during the initial assault on the terminal building where the hostages were being held.

The aviation heritage center commemoration reflects the operation's significance in Israeli military history and its reliance on precise aerial coordination. The rescue mission required Israeli Air Force transport planes to fly approximately 4,000 kilometers to Uganda and back, representing an extraordinary logistical and tactical achievement for its time.

Details regarding the specific nature of the commemoration, including exhibit contents and dedication dates, have not yet been publicly announced. The center is expected to showcase Netanyahu's leadership during the operation and the broader context of Israel's counter-terrorism efforts during that era.

Yoni Netanyahu was the older brother of Benjamin Netanyahu, who has served multiple terms as Israel's Prime Minister. The elder Netanyahu's legacy has remained influential in Israeli military culture, with numerous books, films, and documentaries chronicling the Entebbe operation and his role in it.

The Entebbe rescue operation remains a defining moment in Israeli history, demonstrating the country's commitment to protecting its citizens abroad and its military's operational capabilities. The mission succeeded in rescuing hostages who had been seized when their Air France flight from Tel Aviv to Paris was hijacked by members of the Popular Front for Liberation of Palestine and German Revolutionary Cells terrorists.