My earlier post of 'The Horror' was a piece of monologue from the movie Apocalypse Now. While the movie uses as its model Conrad's Heart of Darkness, it was the specific point the Kurtz character makes that I wanted to drive home: The use of implacable hate and violence to make and carry the point of the terrorists.
Hamas uses their absolutist basic of beliefs very publicly to beat anybody they dominate. Their beliefs are known, their horrid behavior is understood immediately at home and abroad.

Israel's response has come in for criticism because there is a basic understanding, or hope, or desire, that Israel can behave more 'humanely' whereas no one is under a delusion that Hamas is going to be so limited. But Israel understands that moderation in response to Hamas' attack will be criticized by its enemies in any case, and somewhat criticized by its non-enemies but it is Hamas that is observing the butcher's bill.

This quote is closer to home:

"We can forgive [them] for killing our children. We cannot forgive them for forcing us to kill their children. We will only have peace [with them] when they love their children more than they hate us.

Golda Meir (1957!)