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.

Yarden Bibas, an Israeli father who was kidnapped by Hamas along with his wife and two young children, has faced an “unbearable reality” after being released by the terror group without his family.

Hamas on Saturday released three Israeli hostages from captivity in two orderly handover ceremonies that stood in marked contrast to chaotic scenes earlier this week.

Keith Siegel, a 65-year-old U.S. citizen abducted by Hamas, is expected to be freed Saturday as part of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal, ending an agonizing 15-month wait for his family.

The increasingly theatrical and threatening events have angered Israel and put a cease-fire deal at risk.

Keith Segel, an American-Israeli in Gaza and the first of American citizens taken on Oct. 7, will be released on Saturday as part of the Israel-Hamas ceasfire deal.

Keith Siegel, a U.S. citizen, was released by Hamas as part of ongoing negotiations under the Gaza ceasefire deal that began last month. He was released alongside two other male Israeli hostages — Ofer Kalderon and Yarden Bibas.

Tel Aviv — American-Israeli dual national Keith Siegel was among three hostages released by Hamas militants in the