In their fruitless military contest with the IDF, Hamas has proven, by storing its munitions and rocket launchers in civilian areas, that they have very little regard for Palestinian lives.
By rejecting the cease-fire brokered by Egypt, and continued rocket fire into Israel, they have reinforced that perspective.
Moreover, Hamas set up rocket launchers near one of the main crossings into Israel, and in response the IDF artillery shelled the launchers. Despite a respite from the shelling, Hamas unilaterally closed the Erez crossing, thereby denying transit for those Palestinians getting vital medical treatment, from facilities in Israel.
Now I know certain heads are exploding with the thought that perhaps Hamas does not have the best interests of the Palestinians are heart, but it seems to this observer that Hamas is complicit in the deaths of hundreds of Gaza residents.
How I wish that some would recognize that Hamas plays right into the hands of the most extreme elements in Israel, and is complicit in the suffering playing out in this troubled region.