I just want to preempt any debate over whether these claims are credible by saying that they are fundamentally not relevant to the long-term needs of this situation.
Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Israel need to be afforded their human rights. Israelis need security, and will never get it from violence and ruthless persecution of this ethnic underclass they’ve created.
My point is that if you diagram out the best of course of action, all nodes on that diagram that are based on what Hamas has or hasn’t done lead to no meaningful difference. Their violence is abhorrent. There is no point is debating over their tactics or location however, because none of it changes the harsh realities that only a negotiation that provides Palestinians access to safe homes, education, food, etc. is going to bring an end to the cycle of violence, and I feel compelled to point this out whenever these distractions pop up, as they do on a daily basis.