Dr. Hussein ibish:
This current conflict is against israel, but is directed at egypt. the context to understanding this conflict is by looking at hamas desperate situation. egypt closed down the egyptian border, their access to funds got limited and removing their smuggling tunnels. they hoped to rescue themselves from this situation by joining fatah, strengthening themselves in the west bank and neglect gaza which is a burden on them. israel wasn't happy from these actions but couldn't do much.
By searching for the three abducted boys, israel has inflicted severe and almost fatal blow to hamas west bank operation branches. hamas, seeing it, turned desperate and decided to escalate assuming that israel would not want to completely eradicate them. israel has 3 options: Keep hamas in the strip while he is bleeding. Conquer gaza and police its streets by itself or Eradicate hamas and hope Al qaeda, the islamic jihad or ISIS wont take over. hamas safely assumed israel would always pick option number 1.
hamas has raised quite a few eyebrows, including in places that once supported it, by rejecting three truce offers right now, with the formula of Peace for Peace.
Egypt is the only entity that can "give" anything to hamas. israel wont lift the blockade, turkey can only give them angry rethoric and qatar can only give them cheques that saudi arabia and usa prevent from being cashed in. so only egypt can give them anything and thats why, aside from releasing their prisoners, which israel wont do and they know it, all their requests are from egypt.
This war is against israel, but its target is egypt.
Yet, its important to understand that egypt see it not politically, but as a question of national security. since overthrowing morsi, they came to sinai and witenessed hamas cooperating with countless terror organizations such as Answar beit al maqdas (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ansar_Bait_al-Maqdis). so now the key is finding out what egypt can give that hamas is willing to accept that will allow egypt to live peacefully with.
Gaza only option to continue its existence is to join most of the west bank and part of east jerusalem. the west bank can sustain itself, but gaza can't (I think he is wrong, the settlers in gush katif managed to make 15% of israel agricultural products from within a far smaller cultivating area. the technology and some of the physical abilities, were given to the palestines by american jewish funds that bought it from the settlers.)
I am not familiar with any israeli that thinks a status quo is a good thing aside from few religious people. there is no other answer to resolve this situation but through peace.