Hamas leadership has stated that Palestinians deaths are immaterial when compared to the cause.

Israel might be the best friend the Palestinians have.

"I said to Sinwar, "Tell me, is it worth it for 10,000 innocent people to die, in order to free 100 prisoners?" The reply was, "Even 100,000 is worth it." Their notion of time is different, and the price in blood they are ready to pay in order to achieve their goal is different. Because each person who dies is a shahid [martyr]. It's warfare in the name of God.

Are they themselves willing to die?

Not all of them. For example, I had a conversation with Abbas al-Sayed. I asked, "Why didn't you go on a suicide mission yourself? Why do you send others?" He said, "Everyone has a role. I am in charge.

Do you think Sinwar is willing to die?

He is. Definitely. That's the difference between him and the Hamas leaders who were released in the Shalit deal, and are living decadent lives in Turkey or Qatar. They forgot their people. Sinwar is not like that. He's an ascetic. Since establishing the shock committees in Gaza [the Al-Majad organization, whose aim was to liquidate collaborators and violators of religious law], he hasn't changed. Today he feels like Saladin, because he succeeded in doing what no Arab leader before him did. He sees himself as playing a central role in the realization of the Islamist ambitions of the Muslim Brotherhood. He thinks he has entered the annals of history. And he really doesn't care if 200,000 people are killed and not a single house remains complete in Gaza. The main thing is the goal, the greater idea."