Is that the strategy of hamas then? They cannot hope to win, or even achieve anything, so they just hurt the people of Gaza and the hostages because of some misguided idea that this makes them feel "strong", whatever that means?

Sadly, I think you're actually right. That that's it.

I’m not even sure it’s a “strategy” for anyone. I think it’s just a consequence of being weak and being (or feeling) threatened.

Not unlike bullies. I don’t think bullies make the conscious decision to be that way.

Something similar could be said of Israeli strategy. They have not achieved anything of note except inflicting a Holocaust against the Palestinians. Perhaps because of some misguided idea that this makes them feel strong.

I think that is why they keep sabotaging the talks that would have seen all the hostages returned by now.

Yes, violently disproportionate attacks on civilians is a part of IDF doctrine: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dahiya_doctrine

Disproportionate violence is the basic modus operandus of every state.

You don't understand what modus operandi means. Hamas and Iran can't function using disproportionate violence; they don't have fighter jets or stealth bombers, there isn't an October 7th every month. Their manner of fighting is dramatically underproportionate and still manages to threaten civilians less than Israel.

It should horrify you when the war on terror has killed more civilians than the terrorists ever did. Netanyahu knows violence won't bring hostages home, and everyone else knows Israel will fulminate until they're sanctioned into the stone age. Hamas and Iran are both winning the pissing contest by doing absolutely nothing.

I think you'll find Iranians disagree with that assessment. And Palestinians, once you ask a few more pointed questions.

>Something similar could be said of Israeli strategy. They have not achieved anything of note except inflicting a Holocaust against the Palestinians. Perhaps because of some misguided idea that this makes them feel strong.

It's pretty consistently noted in the media that Netanyahu's actions in Palestine are to placate his far-right coalition partners, who would otherwise bring down his government. No need to invoke "this makes them feel strong" here.

I guess it might depend on what the goal is for staying in office, and to what ends one will go to do so. Is all of this truly because he believes this will make Israelis safer? Or is it because he wants to hold power, and what’s the motivator for holding that power? Avoiding consequences?

I wonder if for people like Netanyahu, Trump, Putin, etc. (and the people who are successfully swayed to support them…) it’s less about feeling strong and more about avoiding feeling weak.

I'd say the jury is actually still out on whether al-Aqsa Flood will turn out to have been a brilliant strategic gambit. IDF still suffers frequent "security incidents" in Gaza, and Israel's popular support now consists of a dwindling core of hardliners and online Hasbara bots.