I’m not whitewashing Hamas. I’m merely stating the obvious, that a campaign of extermination is unacceptable.
But Hamas’s own actions force Israel into killing women & children. Civilians were told to leave Gaza. They either didn’t do so because of their own ideological bent, or they were forced to stay as human shields by Hamas. At that point, the Israelis are justified in utter destruction.
You cannot be merciful to those who are ruthless.