Hamas knows the International community, including the US, will step in long before total destruction comes.
sadly you are almost certainly correct. Before Israel will be start practically the condemnations will start.
IMO in situations like this and 9-11 you have to strike hard and fast while the rage is still there and before anything can be done to undo your response.
I tend to agree. More sympathy, more money, larger place at the table. I still recall Arafat at Camp David. When he didn't get some 5% or so of his demands, he orders an immediate intifada on Israel. Suicide bombers were blowing up buses, weddings, market places, various events, etc. on a weekly basis.
Then Israel built their impressive wall and that stopped those murderous bastards, until they discovered rockets, and that was just occasionally until this attempt at genocide.