The hijacking of Air France Flight 139 occurred on June 27, 1976, when two members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine - External Operations and two members of the German Revolutionary Cells took control of the plane during a flight from Tel Aviv to Paris. The flight, carrying 248 passengers, was diverted to Entebbe, Uganda, where the hijackers demanded the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. After several days of negotiations, with no resolution in sight, the Israeli government decided to take decisive action to rescue the hostages.

On July 4, the Israeli Defense Forces launched a surprise raid, dubbed Operation Entebbe, which involved a team of about 100 elite commandos. The operation faced numerous challenges, including navigating the complex political landscape of Uganda and the relatively limited intelligence available. The commandos managed to overpower the hijackers within 90 minutes, using military tactics and precision assault. They successfully rescued 102 hostages, although during the operation, three hostages were killed, along with a fourth in the aftermath of the raid. The mission concluded with the commandos safely returning to Israel with the survivors.

Operation Entebbe has often been considered a pivotal moment for Israel's military and international image. It illustrated Israel's commitment to counter-terrorism and its willingness to act decisively in defense of its citizens. The success of the raid has since been examined in military studies and remains a reference point for counter-terrorism operations globally, reflecting the importance of strategic planning, execution, and the moral complexities involved in such actions.