You couch a legitimate response to a massacre and kidnapping an immoral act. Hamas has had over 8 months to lay down their arms and release all the hostages, and to stop firing rockets into Israel’s civilian populated areas. Israel has to do what ever is necessary to get them to stop.
The problem is that Hamas does not want it to stop as their unrealistic stated goal is the obliteration of Israel and to kill as many Israelis as possible. So who is in a state of denial, you or me?
Hamas is very honest about their ambitions!