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“The Taking of Hostages is an Act of War”: Guest Speaker Hugh Dugan

Ellen Jordan ’26 in News | April 19, 2024

Last Thursday, Lawrentians had the opportunity to attend a seminar hosted by Hugh Dugan P’20 ’21 that focused on hostage-taking. Dugan, an international affairs practitioner, served as the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs under former U.S. President Donald Trump. 

Dugan commenced the seminar by recalling the recent United Nations (U.N.) resolution that called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza during the month of Ramadan, which, Dugan emphasized, was extremely successful. Dugan then transitioned into discussing some of the resolution’s shortcomings. 

“The resolution fell short on what you see is happening [in Gaza],” Dugan noted as he  critiqued the resolution for failing to condemn the Palestinian militant group Hamas —which has been designated by the U.S. and the E.U. as a terrorist organization— for its role in the conflict. Dugan additionally pointed out that the U.S. opted to abstain from voting on the resolution, which, Dugan suggested, may demonstrate that the U.S.'s once-strong relationship with Israel is beginning to deteriorate. “[The United States’ abstinence] is a way of signifying the White House’s unhappiness with Israel,” Dugan elaborated. 

Dugan then transitioned into discussing the U.N.’s Resolution 181 of 1947 which outlined how the British-Palestinian Mandate should be divided following Britain’s relinquishment of the territory of Palestine in 1948. The Resolution called for the division of Palestinian land into two states, one Jewish and one Arab, and placed Jerusalem under a special international regime. 

Following the introduction into   Israel’s history and the U.N.’s role in the nation’s  creation, Dugan moved on to discussing the six U.S. hostages who are currently being held by Hamas.“Our [U.S.] law states that we do not negotiate with terrorists. We do negotiate with governments,” Dugan explained. Dugan argued that it is due to the U.S.’s position as the leader of the free world that smaller countries and terrorist organizations seek to take U.S. hostages as a method of gaining leverage against Americans. “This asymmetrical form of power, I fear, may be the next form of warfare,” Dugan elaborated. 

Dugan concluded the seminar by stressing that while the U.S. must remain steadfast in its current policy of not negotiating with terrorists, it is becoming increasingly essential to develop repercussions for hostage-takers. Following the seminar, there was a Q&A session, which included questions ranging from whether the U.S.’s current hostage policies are truly sustainable, to what it takes for a nation-state to become classified as a terrorist state.

According to Chloe Lee ’26, Dugan’s career in national security provided a unique perspective on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. “I think [the seminar] was really informative from a security and logistical standpoint,” Lee said, “rather than just providing an opinion based on [which nation] one supports.”

 This seminar contributes to the School’s expanding initiative to engage Lawrenceville students in thoughtful discussions about Middle Eastern history and politics. Lawrenceville will continue to invite various speakers throughout the Spring Term, including former U.S. Ambassador to Israel Tom Nides, providing opportunities for students to be informed about this issue. 

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