Amid the unprecedented regional and global reaction to the ongoing hostage crisis in Gaza, it is easy to forget that the use of hostages as a tool of terror, diplomacy and/or warfare is not without precedent. And, in a week in which Qatari-led negotiations between Israel and Hamas have finally started to bear fruit, the long history of hostage-taking appears to contain some uncomfortable truths for today.
Why taking hostages is a gamble that often pays off yahoo.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from yahoo.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.