To do nothing is to die. That's not a real choice.

As for what they achieved? Israel was well on its way to a fascist takeover with the rightist reforms, unprecedented protests were happening inside Israel against the government. Hamas just showed them that their government can not keep them safe and can not be trusted. That's significant, and it might just save Israeli democracy if this leads to Netanyahu's ousting.

Israel was also well on its way to normalizing relations with the entire Arab world, and now Hamas has provoked them into throwing that all out the window and instead inviting condemnation and isolation in the region.

Hamas has also opened up a new front against the American empire. Now instead of only needing to focus on Ukraine it has had its attention split to the 51st state and Greatest Ally. At the same time, there is no House Speaker. And the Republican frontrunner is a criminal.

Hamas is smart. They attacked at a very opportune moment.