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Israel doesn't know whether using more force on Palestine will prevent attacks from Hamas or provoke them
History tells us the answer to this. Extremism thrives off violence.
Exactly. And violence begets violence. Escalation of violence, which is happening and sadly, will continue till many more people die. It's unfathomable the dark period the peoples of Palestine and Israel are entering.
Also the Americans who have restrained Israelis in previous flare ups, sound ready to step back and let the the IDF attack with no limit
skydancer-
Yes but it's not as easy to stop as just saying "ok we won't be violent anymore". The people who want to attack Israel won't all suddenly say "ok we're good with you now". I agree de-escalation and reduction in violence has to be the aim and direction, but this is what I mean about this being complex - the route to doing that isn't simple
andyfallsoff
History tells us the answer to this. Extremism thrives off violence. Hamas is arguably only extant due to discontent with previous overuse of force by Israel, and the perceived subsequent lack of action by Fatah.
Elsewhere it is evident that increased strength of resistance has been shown in face of increasing violence.
Afghanistan (Britain)
Vietnam (France, then Japan, then France, then America)
Afghanistan (USSR)
Iraq (Britain and America)
Afghanistan (Americans and British)
They absolutely did know, and they knew the extent. They knew that Israel would retaliate, as it always has done and has made Policy, with an Iron Fist, and this would lead to substantial, unavoidable, civilian casualties of Palestinians.
This makes the already abhorrent action taken by Hamas even more abhorrent.
As to the international reaction- they don't care. They're zealots.
Violence doesn't work. One of the Intifadas had a set focus of following India and Gandhi's noncooperative nonviolent, though was inevitably co-opted by other elements.
Success was made on an international stage as well as within Israel, just as with India, and this has been lost to history in favour of bloody-minded violent means.