Legal Definitions - taking of hostages

Definition: Taking of hostages is a war crime that occurs when someone seizes, detains, or holds someone else hostage as part of an armed conflict. The person holding the hostages threatens to harm or kill them if their demands are not met. The goal is to force a state, international organization, or individuals to act or refrain from acting in a certain way in exchange for the safety or release of the hostages. This conduct is only considered a war crime if it takes place in the context of an international armed conflict and the victims are protected under the Geneva Conventions of 1949.

Examples:

• A group of rebels in a war-torn country kidnaps a group of aid workers and demands that the government release their imprisoned comrades in exchange for their release.
• A terrorist organization hijacks a plane and threatens to kill the passengers unless their political demands are met.

These examples illustrate how taking hostages is used as a tactic to achieve certain goals in an armed conflict. The perpetrators use the hostages as leverage to force others to comply with their demands. This is a violation of international law and is considered a war crime.