While we in the USA were celebrating our Bicentennial, half a world away a daring and dramatic rescue operation took place when the IDF flew a hostage rescue force from Israel to the Entebbe International Airport in Uganda. The ordeal began on June 27, 1976, when Air France Flight 139 was hijacked from Athens, Greece by Palestinian and German terrorists. They diverted the plane to Benghazi, Libya, and after refueling (and the release of one female hostage) continued on to Entebbe.
Upon reaching Entebbe, the Israeli and Jewish passengers were separated from their Gentile counterparts (who were released). The terrorists threatened to kill the remaining hostages if Israel did not release 40 Palestinians held in Israel and 13 other prisoners held in Kenya, Germany, Switzerland, and France by July 1.
The Israeli rescue operation was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Netanyahu, the older brother of former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and the only IDF fatality. His express orders were to ensure the safety of the hostages first, before any casualties were treated. 100 hostages, and the crew of Air France 139, were rescued in the daring attack which began at 2300 hours (local time) on July 4, 1976 and lasted less than thirty minutes. Only three hostages were lost. The raid and the freed hostages returned home to thousands of well-wishers.
After the raid, Uganda called for a Security Council resolution condemning Israel for the raid, claiming violation of sovereignty, which did not pass. Israeli Ambassador Chaim Herzog responded by addressing the Council:

“We come with a simple message to the Council: we are proud of what we have done because we have demonstrated to the world that a small country, in Israel’s circumstances, with which the members of this Council are by now all too familiar, the dignity of man, human life and human freedom constitute the highest values. We are proud not only because we have saved the lives of over a hundred innocent people — men, women and children — but because of the significance of our act for the cause of human freedom.”

As long as Free Men and Women around the world stand up to the forces of Darkness, Evil shall NEVER PREVAIL.