Amir Ofer Recalls Yoni Netanyahu's Injury During Entebbe and Consoles Fallen Comrade's Family

Amir Ofer, a commando from the IDF's elite Sayeret Matkal unit who participated in the Entebbe rescue mission, shared his memories in an interview with Ynet. He recounted witnessing Yoni Netanyahu, the mission commander and brother of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, getting wounded during a firefight with a terrorist. "I saw Yoni get hit and fall," Ofer said.

Ofer emphasized the difficult decisions in hostage rescue operations, stating that when there is a reasonable chance to save hostages, a force must be deployed, but if chances are slim, a different approach is necessary. He also spoke about his acquaintance with the late Arnon Zamora, who was killed during a hostage rescue operation in the Gaza Strip. After the outbreak of the recent conflict, Zamora was deeply depressed and expressed frustration that the Entebbe mission had succeeded while their own rescue efforts had failed. Ofer reassured him, saying, "You did not fail; it was impossible."

The interview highlights both the personal sacrifices and the complex realities faced by Israeli special forces in hostage rescue missions, as well as the emotional toll on soldiers and their families.