If you read further down my post I did say this round of conflict, and I referenced the Gaza strip.
Hamas controlled / governed the Gaza strip, and invaded Israel from the Gaza strip. At that moment in time I don't believe Israel was present in the Gaza strip. IMO it's clearly the direct action that started the current war within the Gaza strip.
That action from Hamas is what escalated things to the point of all out war between the two forces, which is what led to the scale of death and destruction we've seen since.
Hamas chose that action, knowing it would lead directly to full scale war. Hamas led Gazans directly into war. Hamas has chosen not to surrender to spare Gazans, but continue fighting. Unfortunately the war that has followed has extracted a terrible toll on civilians, as most wars do.
