The playbook for rescuing hostages was rewritten at Entebbe. Israel’s Operation Thunderbolt became legend and a promise: never leave anyone behind. But decades later that legend has collided with brutal reality. From Munich to Beslan to Gaza, negotiations, lopsided swaps, and live-televised horrors taught militants how to weaponize empathy. Now taking captives isn’t just a tactic — it’s a strategic instrument that bends politics, public opinion, and the rules of war.
You can find this video on our YouTube channel Today Unpacked.
