Israel declassifies Entebbe raid documents ahead of 50th anniversary

Israel’s State Archives released a cache of previously classified documents on the 1976 Entebbe hostage‑rescue operation, publishing the files days before the 50th anniversary on 3 July 2026. The records show that Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin’s crisis team initially ruled out any negotiations with the Palestinian and West‑German hijackers, but as the six‑day standoff wore on and families pressured officials, they began to consider talks. A memo quoted in the files reads: “The zero hour is approaching … We believe that a supreme effort must be made and break the ultimatum.”

The documents also reveal that Israel pursued a two‑track strategy: it supported French‑led negotiations with Ugandan President Idi Amin while secretly preparing the raid, building mock‑ups of Entebbe Airport and staging transport aircraft in Kenya. The operation on 4 July 1976 rescued all but three of the 106 hostages, killed all hijackers and dozens of Ugandan soldiers, and saw the sole Israeli commando casualty, Yonatan Netanyahu. Rabin’s own assessment was cautious: “Let us not deceive ourselves … the problem is not over.” The release comes as Israel continues to deal with the aftermath of the October 2023 Hamas attacks.