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Perhaps, if these had been primarily civilians, recklessly but peacefully protesting within an obviously declared Israeli defensive area. But, alas, no such luck for the Israel-bashers: of the approximately 60 killed, Hamas has admitted that 50 belonged to the terror group and at least three others belonged to other terror organizations. This was, in other words, an invasion — an inept one, but an invasion all the same. Israel was well within its legal rights to defend itself, and provided ample warning of its intentions to do so, before escalating to lethal force.

It’s regrettable that civilians were present in a place where they could come to harm. But Hamas put them there. While people might have been motivated in part by genuine frustrations over the miserable conditions in Gaza, they are there at the border, at specific times and places, because Hamas wants them there. Any illusions to the contrary were quickly dispelled this week when Israel (showing more concern for Gazan civilians than Hamas has) warned the terror group that further provocations at the border would result in direct attacks on Hamas’s leadership, driving home the point with a series of strikes on Hamas targets inside Gaza.

And wouldn’t you know it? The situation at the border calmed down, immediately, and diplomats in the region report that Hamas is looking to de-escalate. What an amazing coincidence to see these purportedly “grassroots” protests suddenly lose steam precisely as Hamas itself begins realizing that further violence will result in attacks upon its own senior people and assets. That Ramadan has begun might explain a small part of it, but it’s obvious that Hamas has the power to control the border violence. It didn’t, because that violence suited Hamas’s purpose — until Israel threatened to lay waste to their command centres, at any rate.