There are some conflicts which can never end in victory. This is one such.

Retaliation is not a form of defence. It is a form of suicide. That is more obvious when the retaliation directly takes the form of suicide/murder bombs and such -but all retaliation taken in the full knowledge that it's effect will be more deaths among one's own people is still a form of suicide.

And staking everything on some dream of victory is a form of suicide as well.

"There is no way to peace. Peace is the way." That's what Gandhi once said.