I was saved by Netanyahu's brother who died saving me – Israel must learn from its sacrifice to free Hamas hostages – The Sun
A father who was rescued by Benjamin Netanyahu's brother in 1976 has urged Israel to show the same courage today in rescuing hostages held by Hamas.
Israeli commander Yonatan Netanyahu was killed while leading Operation Entebbe in Uganda to free 257 people held hostage on a hijacked plane, including 13-year-old Benny Davidson.
12
12
12
If Hamas' brutal war with Israel Fourth month begins, says Entebbe survivor Benny, now 60, the Israeli prime minister said Netanyahu and his troops must make the same sacrifices as his brother.
The father of four said Israel must take all steps necessary to ensure the release of the remaining 136 hostages in the Gaza Strip.
Yonatan – known as Yoni – led Israel's special forces commando unit during the Entebbe attack launched in response to the 1976 air base hijacking. France flight from Tel Aviv to Paris.
Two Palestinian terrorists and two German terrorists took control of the plane during a stopover in Athens.
Read more about Israeli hostages
They diverted the flight to Libya and then to Ugandawhere the hijackers were joined by other terrorists at Entebbe International Airport.
It is said that the terrorists wanted to use the hostages to press for the release of 40 Palestinian and allied militants imprisoned in Israelas well as 13 prisoners in four other countries.
More than a hundred Ugandan soldiers joined the terrorists as the flight landed and helped move the hostages to an empty airport.
In a chilling echo of scenes seen in recent months with Hamasthe terrorists threatened to kill prisoners if certain prisoners were not released.
The Israeli army launched a rescue operation and eventually all but four of the 248 hostages were released within a week.
Tragically, Yoni died.
Survivor Benny was only 13 years old when the flight was hijacked by terrorists. Decades later, he is still processing the trauma.
He was convinced he was being “slaughtered” when gunfire erupted and Israeli soldiers rushed to rescue him, his older brother Ron, his mother Sara and father Uzi, and the other hostages.
The entrepreneur told The Sun: “I found myself lying on the floor with my mother covering me with her body. All hell broke loose and there were shots from rifles and some machine guns.”
Under Yoni's leadership, the soldiers 'eliminated' the terrorists before coming to their aid.
Benny said they looked down at him, smiled and said, “Hey, we came to take you home.”
He described what he had to endure before the arrival of the IDF as “horrific” – but he added: “Let us not forget that we are not in the tunnels of Hamas.”
Benny said it is crucial that Prime Minister Netanyahu prioritize the return of hostages being held by Hamas – even if it means endangering the lives of others.
It has been more than 100 days since Hamas stormed the Israeli borderkilled 1,200 people and dragged 240 hostages to Gaza.
The government… is not doing the utmost, ultimate, sacred task, but is rescuing the 136 hostages
Benny Davidson
A temporary ceasefire was established between Israel and Hamas-led Palestinian militant groups in the besieged enclave the release of 105 civilian hostages between November 24 and 30.
Hamas still holds 108 hostages empathizeAccording to Israeli information.
Earlier this week, Israel confirmed that it had begun flooding Hamas' tunnel matrix under the Gaza Strip – also called the 'Gaza Metro' – with seawater to flush out terrorists.
There were concerns about the remaining hostages probably held in the tunnels.
But the IDF later said the method was only used “in locations where appropriate”.
Benny said Hamas “must be eradicated” because anyone who commits “heinous crimes against humanity” does not deserve to live.
“We initially thought that our brave army could eliminate Hamas within a few months,” he said.
“But we have been fighting this battle for three and a half months now. We are reducing the forces in Gaza. We are losing the support of the Western world.
“The government… is not doing the ultimate, ultimate, sacred task, which is to rescue the 136 hostages.
“So we are in a deep crisis, not only at the military level, but also internally.”
Who are Hamas?
HAMAS is an Islamic militant group founded in 1987 during the first Palestinian Intifada, or uprising, against Israel.
The terrorist organization is a Palestinian militant movement that also serves as one of the two main political parties in the area.
Over the years, Hamas has carried out shootings, bombings and rocket attacks in Israel; The armies of the two regions have fought in multiple cross-border wars in Gaza since the group took control of Gaza in 2007.
But Hamas attracted global attention when it unleashed its terror on Israel, brutally killing 1,200 people on October 7, 2023.
The group launched surprising land, air and sea attacks against civilians, injuring thousands and taking 240 hostages.
A brutal war has raged ever since and thousands of people have been killed on both sides of the fighting.
Hamas, or in some cases its military wing, has been designated a terrorist group by Israel, the US, the EU and the UK, as well as other powers.
As a former hostage of Palestinian terrorists, he believes that Israel should reconsider negotiations with Hamas to get back those still imprisoned in Gaza.
He added: “As much as possible alive.”
Benny reflected on the massive rescue mission that freed him nearly 50 years ago — and said Netanyahu's brother and his soldiers were “following a simple theme.”
“Netanyahu's brother took his command of the armed forces along with 220 fighters to an operation,” he said.
'That was a truly crazy operation, but they followed a simple theme, or subject, which was to care for all Jews or Israelis who are captured anywhere in the world, even at the sacrifice of their lives.
“And he just fell on those principles of Judaism. Zionism, integrity and morality, of caring for his fellow Israeli people.”
Hamas this week issued a chilling warning to the families of the hostagesand vows to kill those still held captive if Israel continues to bomb Gaza.
The terrorist group has announced this there was “no chance” it would release the hostages after Netanyahu rejected another potential ceasefire agreement.
Conditions for Hamas's proposal included Israel's complete withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, leaving the terrorists in charge.
Netanyahu said: “In exchange for the release of our hostages, Hamas demands the end of the warthe withdrawal of our troops from Gaza, the release of all murderers and rapists.
“And leave Hamas intact. I flatly reject the terms of surrender of Hamas's monsters.”
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
