Their ideal solution would be to kill every Palestinian and grind their buildings into dust.

International attention prevents them from doing so. Although far too many countries are far too chummy with Israel, they wouldn’t be able to maintain that in the face of open genocide.

So instead they take what they can take. Bulldoze a few houses, execute a few people at the border, the usual stuff they get away with.

But Hamas handed them an excuse on a silver platter and there has never been a better time for them to get what they want. It’s clear they’ve decided on at least half the city and any civilians who get in the way.