Raid on Entebbe

Set in 1976, the events unfold in late June during a dramatic hostage crisis. The Israeli response is a top-secret military raid carried out on the Jewish Sabbath, highlighting the clash between urgent duty and religious observance. The timeline spans the hijacking, negotiation drama, and a high-stakes assault that reshapes regional security.

Primary setting is Entebbe International Airport in Uganda, where the hijackers hold hostages in a tense standoff. The crisis begins with a hijack in Athens and ends with a daring raid staged from far away by the Israeli government. The surrounding locations—Kampala's Mulago Hospital, Nairobi for refueling, and Sharm El Sheikh—frame the operation as a regional counter-terrorism effort.

🛡️ Duty

During the Entebbe raid, the government faces the moral obligation to protect civilians while refusing to bow to terrorism. The decision-making process reveals the weight of leadership under pressure, where political risk clashes with human lives. The mission demonstrates how nations mobilize intelligence, logistics, and force in a crisis. The Sabbath constraint adds an extra layer of complexity, testing cultural and national expectations.

🕊️ Sacrifice

Soldiers and civilians alike pay a price for bold action. Yonatan Netanyahu's death is a stark reminder that victory can come with irreversible losses. The film explores personal sacrifice—the risk taken by commandos, the pain of families, and the moral costs of rescue operations. The narrative frames sacrifice as an essential, if painful, component of security.

🤝 Teamwork

Operation Thunderbolt hinges on seamless teamwork across forces: planning, deception, and quick improvisation under pressure. The commandos synchronize airlift, ground assault, and rescue with split-second timing. The success depends on trust among leaders, technicians, and support personnel scattered across continents. The film highlights the human element behind strategic calculations, where cooperation can overcome overwhelming odds.