Was the concept of hell created out of 'eternal love' like Dante said it was?

Yes. God loves every person so much that He respects their decisions, even when they contradict His own will. For those who reject Him, despise Him, hate Him, choose to live apart from Him, He provides a place where their choices can be respected, where they can live for eternity as they have freely chosen to live, in the complete absence of God, and therefore of all that is godly. What would be the alternative? To take such people and force them to spend eternity in the intimate company of the very one they despise? Where would be the love in that?