No the Palestinians are not innocent bystanders.

Gazans increasingly happy with Oct. 7; 52% want Hamas to rule Strip after war

According to the survey, which sampled 1,580 Palestinian adults in early March, 71 percent of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank believe that the October 7 massacres in which in terrorists killed some 1,200 people and kidnapped 253 others was “correct,” versus 72% who said so when the organization’s previous poll was published in December. The poll found the number of Palestinians who admit Hamas committed war crimes fell from 10% to 5%.

Basically two thirds of Gazans believe that killing, raping, torturing, and kidnapping jews is "correct" and should not be considered a war crime. These are the people our President and other liberals demand need to be protected from Israeli retaliation.

On the flip side, the Israeli onslaught may have move Gazans towards a two state solution and away from the idea that they can defeat Israel militarily:

In September, just 34% of Gazans supported the two-state solution, a figure which remained steady in December, but in March, the poll found 64% now back the idea.

As support for two states is on the rise, the belief that armed resistance is the best method to achieve statehood is decreasing. In December 2023, 56% of Gazans believed it was the most effective method, compared to 39% today.

That might be the most important take away from this poll. If correct, that would suggest that Israel overwhelming response might have provided Gazans with a first hand view of why their chances of winning an actual war against Israel is unlikely and that maybe they would be better off trying to negotiate a two state solution.