Hamas would struggle to fill their ranks without under-18 fighters. Doesn't make it any better, but worth mentioning for perspective.
Its one of those fundamental complexities of the conflict that gets thrown out with the histrionics on either side, and that includes both israeli propaganda and the new york times alike
Hamas uses civilians as human shields because they have no choice but to operate inside civilian areas, they can't exist as some well organized army on an isolated battlefield. And yet they purposefully maximize the exposure of civilians and build command centers under hospitals. Hamas uses child soldiers, because Palestinians breed like rabbits and almost half the entire population of Gaza is under 18 years old. They send children to ambush the IDF or strap suicide vests to them. And yet, western propaganda will run pieces about how its a self-evident war crime that Israel has killed so many children. The blockade vs Palestinians receiving arms from Iran. The rights of Palestinians and their apartheid, versus how they'd kill every jew if they took power. etc etc
I don't know all the solutions to the conflict or even the truth of what is actually going on behind the fog of war, but I do know when people are lying to us.
The BBC did a radio segment yesterday with their reporter being allowed to fly along as supplies were airdropped. He said how Israel wouldn't let him film the devastation he could see below, how they didn't want the world getting photographs of the destroyed cities. He didn't mention how the IDF has said they won't let reporters take aerial photos that would expose IDF positions to Hamas and give them operational intel. And whether you believe their motives and ulteriors, that's a plainly valid reason and the reporter is clearly aware of it, and yet, never said anything about it. I know he knows, I know he's lying by omission.