Start of offensive or just manoeuvring?

Has Israel begun its expanded offensive in Gaza City, or is it hype?

- Peter Beaumont

After several weeks of threats of a new large-scale offensive, strongly opposed by the majority of the international community, Israeli officials have made announcements daily, saying the plan to occupy Gaza City has been "approved" - by the Israel Defense Forces, by the security cabinet, by the defence minister.

Late yesterday, in an event with the Israeli military, the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, also proffered his "approval". How many times, one is tempted to ask, does one plan need approving?

While Reuters reported a junior defence spokesperson as suggesting the operation to take Gaza City had begun, quotes from that briefing paint a more complex picture, including a reference to the second phase of Operation Gideon's Chariots, the military offensive that began in May.