Hamas is doubling down on the Algerian playbook of the 50s.(See the quasi-documentary 'Battle of Algiers') They are committing terrorism on both Israeli and Palestinian civilians and provoking a response, preferably one they can characterize as out of proportion. They are playing to the resurgent Arab street of the somewhat more (small d) democratic states of North Africa.
It is amusing to see the righteous indignation of so many who have become accepting of the much greater violence visited by the Syrian junta on their civlians. Amusing, but, not ha-ha funny.
Meanwhile, I can't blame Israel for defending her civilians.
If Israel didn't have the 'iron dome' missile defense working in her favor, I'm pretty sure there would be a much higher Palestinian casualty rate.
Hamas is playing a shoot-the-moon strategy that is killing a lot of people. They perceive it as to their advantage to keep the Palestinian body count front and center.
Sooner or later the world will pay attention to the next round of violence in Libya, or Syria, or Georgia, or China, and the Palestinians will have been screwed yet again. But at least by their own.