My opinion: from the Hamas side they've been at war for years, including all of the year 2012. I just got the newsletter of a friend who has a ministry in Israel. He writes, "Since January 2012, 1,333 Hamas rockets have hit Israel. According to Israelproject.org 325 Hamas rockets hit Thursday, November 15, 2012."
I was in a missionary conference this year with this man, and he showed a video of the rocket bombing. On and near the border, kids in schools have just ten seconds of warning before the rocket hits. That's ten seconds to get downstairs to the safe basement, sometimes from the 2nd or 3rd floor. The video showed Israeli children and adults in total shock after bombs hit, able to do nothing but stand or sit and tremble. But does the US media show this stuff? Never.
Because of this war, literally millions and millions of Israeli children go to bed hungry every night. The Israeli government must put all their money into defense, so a large percentage of Israelis are in dirt poor, 3rd world situtations.
Absolutely, and it's terrible.
http://www.ifcj.org/site/PageNavigator/eng/programs/guardians_of_israel/what_we_do/soup_kitchens_goi