The Gaza war is paused, but Israel and Hamas keep up a fierce battle of optics over hostage releases
Arbel Yehoud is achingly close to freedom, but her face is a study of shadow and terror. Yehoud makes it into waiting vehicles, and then to Israel. The visuals out of Israel and Gaza during recent hostage-for-prisoner swaps were part of a choreographed battle of optics waged in parallel to the 16-month ground war between Israel and Hamas.