The recent releases of hostages by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners have been highly publicized events, with both sides carefully crafting the narrative and imagery surrounding the events. This article explores how the visual spectacle of these releases is used as a tool for propaganda, manipulating public perception and highlighting the complexities of the ongoing conflict.
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 . Each side uses the light and shadow of images to make themselves look virtuous and strong — and each other monstrous and weak. It’s propaganda.
But some images also tell the truth: The chaos during Yehoud’s release in Gaza on Thursday, for example, reflected the fragility of the ceasefire deal that took effect Jan. 19. “All of this was filmed and intentionally shared,” said Danielle Gilbert, an expert on hostage-taking at Northwestern University. “Social scientists talk about the idea of a collapse of compassion. Audience pay more attention and are willing to take more of a risk to recover, or help, individual victims.” Throughout history, both sides of hostage standoffs and POW releases have tried to capitalize on the plight of those in captivity by focusing on details of the names, faces, families and conditions of captivity. Arbel Yehoud is achingly close to freedom, but her face is a study of shadow and terror. She is dwarfed by dozens of masked Hamas fighters — and beyond them, a heaving mob of chanting men who surround her and fill the frame. In the next, Yehoud looks up at her captors, pleading. The images suggest they’re on the edge themselves, barely able to hold back the people impeding Yehoud’s dash to safety under the terms of a recent ceasefire deal.
HOSTAGE CRISIS HAMAS ISRAEL PROPAGANDA CEASEFIRE MEDIA COVERAGE
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