The UN Rules of War and Geneva Conventions have meaning, they are a standard by which to measure a situation.
Here is the situation– Hamas intended to have as many dead Gazans as possible to rally Arabs, Islamists, and Western far right around the world to favor their ambition. Otherwise there is no purpose massacre so many Israelis, to include rape and hostage taking and firing 5000 rockets into Israel, knowing ahead of time that Israel would have to respond in such an aggressive manner. Hamas does not even have consideration of UN Rules of War and Geneva Conventions.
This is where I agree with you— Would it do any good for Israel to demand protection from Hamas and Islamic Jihad under these UN Rules of War and Geneva Conventions?