Hamas believes that the land of the state of Israel is really just Palestinian territory that eventually needs to be repatriated.
Many Israelis, including Likud and Sharon, believe that the land of the Palestinian territories is really Israeli territory that eventually needs to be repatriated.

Hamas kills civilians, arguing that since all Israelis are required to serve in the armed forces at some point in their lives, they are valid military targets.
The Israeli Defence Forces kill civilians. No justifications, just obscenely massive collateral damage.

Hamas is a lot of things, but at least it’s honest. It uses terrorism and admits it. Israel uses terrorism but doesn’t admit it.

If Hamas only targeted Israeli military targets, and not civilians, would it be welcomed as a “partner for peace”?

What peace is there in the Middle East that is apparently now being put at risk? The unilateral declaration of cease-fire by Hamas?

For the majority of the world, the IDF is no less terroristic (and perhaps moreso) than Hamas. That’s not a justification for anything, it’s simply a fact of public opinion. In Africa, in Latin America, in Asia, the CIA is no less terroristic, and definitely more terroristic, than Hamas.

If Palestinians are expected to negotiate with Israel, then I don’t see why Israel can’t negotiate with Hamas. Maybe something good will come out of it. Hamas is willing to repudiate violence for one, ten, a hundred years if Israel is willing to do the same. Why not?

Give peace a chance.