Haha, did you really just say Hamas has softened??! They change a few words in their charter, and you think that represents a fundamental change in their views? This, even after they slaughter 1400 innocent people??

The invocation to kill Jews, that Hamas quotes in their founding charter is taken directly from the Hadith:

"The Day of Judgment will not come about until Moslems fight Jews and kill them. Then, the Jews will hide behind rocks and trees, and the rocks and trees will cry out: 'O Moslem, there is a Jew hiding behind me, come and kill him."

Muslim extremists aren't known for their changeable interpretation of Hadith.

Here's Ghazi Hamad from the Hamas Political Bureau, just a few days ago, clarifying that Israel and Israelis must be eradicated. It's hopelessly naive to think that Hamas will accept Israel's existence.

You think that Hamas is acting on behalf of the Palestinian people. That this horrific attack was somehow supposed to help the Palestinian people or was a reaction to their oppression. They're not and it isn't. Hamas wants to kill the Jews. All of them. They're quite happy to kill Palestinians too, and have done so many times.

I agree, Israel's actions in Gaza will radicalise more terrorists. Not to mention the human cost of their actions. I was against the bombardment from day one and still am. But Hamas and Israel cannot coexist. This is just one of the many difficult aspects of this situation.