"He started it" is a pathetic excuse for a continuing genocide.
Hamas could have ended the destruction of Gaza and death of Gazan innocents much earlier if only they had released the hostages shortly after the Oct. 7 attack.
They still would have been able to bargain for the 1,000's of criminals/detainees that Israel released in exchange for the hostages as they were gradually released, because that's what Israel does.
Not releasing the hostages gave Netanyahu all the justification he needed in Israel to continue the retaliation right up to when the last hostage was (reluctantly) returned.
On the other hand, the prolonged destruction did give Hamas the sympathy of much of the world, and allowed closeted antisemitism to be openly displayed around the world.
So maybe Hamas thought it was worth the destruction of Gazan cities, the killing, injury, and starvation of Gazan innocents, for the propaganda that generated, and to declare a moral victory.
Kind of shows how much Hamas cared about the Gazan citizens.
Now Gazan citizens are returning to rubble and destruction, with an almost impossible amount of time, money, and effort needed to rebuild.
And if anybody really believes Hamas will disarm and give up political power in Gaza, I worry about their level of intelligence...
So what can the Board of Peace, with, at this point, almost no powerful members that Hamas will respect, possibly achieve?