The "blockade" is just an excuse

Gaza battle stretches into night despite truce calls
By Nidal al-Mughrabi Nidal Al-mughrabi – 1 hr 20 mins ago
GAZA (Reuters) – Israeli troops backed by air strikes fought to seize ground from Hamas militants deep inside the Gaza Strip on Monday despite international calls for a ceasefire in a conflict that has killed more than 540 Palestinians in 10 days.
Israel made clear its priority was to secure the safety of its citizens, while Hamas called for a lifting of the blockade of the enclave, crammed with 1.5 million people whose lives are growing ever more squalid. Many lack food, water or power.

1. So what was Hamas's reason for bombing Israeli civilians before the "blockade"? The alleged blockade is just the excuse of the day.

2. Q+A: Egypt in tight spot enforcing blockade of Gaza
Sat Dec 27, 2008 7:15pm GMT
By Jonathan Wright CAIRO (Reuters) - Israeli raids on the Gaza Strip, which killed at least 208 people on Saturday, have raised the stakes for Egypt in maintaining a blockade on the territory in spite of strong opposition from the Egyptian...";

Why doesn't Hamas bomb Egyptian civilians if the "blockade" is the reason? Obviously it must something something like the fact that Hamas want to destroy the Jewish people as their charter states.