In the latest development regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict, the Biden administration has dismissed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's claim that a date has been set for a ground offensive into Rafah. Senior administration officials have characterized Netanyahu's statement as bravado, fueled in part by the prime minister's precarious political standing within Israel.

Netanyahu's insistence on a predetermined time for a widescale offensive into the southern Gaza city has been met with skepticism from the Biden administration. Top national security officials under President Joe Biden have publicly stated that they have not been informed of any specific date for such an operation.

Multiple senior administration officials privately downplayed Netanyahu's pronouncement, attributing it to his struggle to balance his goal of eliminating Hamas with the pressure to reach a ceasefire that would secure the release of Israeli hostages. Israeli officials argue that four Hamas battalions remain in Rafah and need to be neutralized.

Moreover, Netanyahu faces a potential political reckoning once the conflict ends, as the fracturing of his tenuous far-right governing coalition looms. The Biden administration, while mindful of Netanyahu's political standing, has pushed back against his plans for Rafah by highlighting the lack of a comprehensive plan from the Israeli side on how to carry out such an operation.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken affirmed on Tuesday that the United States has not been communicated any date for a Rafah operation. President Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, echoed this sentiment, stating that if Netanyahu had a date, it had not been shared with the US.

During a call between Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Gallant indicated that Israel was still in the process of formulating a plan for a potential invasion of Rafah, including necessary preparations to protect civilians. No date for the operation was mentioned during the call.

While the Biden administration has refrained from publicly commenting on Israeli politics throughout the course of the conflict, their concerns over the safety and well-being of civilians in Rafah have prompted inquiries into the practical aspects of such an operation. In a recent virtual meeting, US officials pressed Israeli counterparts on how they would evacuate a large group of civilians from Rafah, but failed to receive comprehensive answers.

The two sides have since engaged in follow-up discussions, and a face-to-face meeting is anticipated next week to address the evacuation plan. Israeli officials have argued that not conducting an operation in Rafah would undermine the previous efforts to root out Hamas, claiming that the remaining battalions there would allow the group to rebuild its presence.

As the Israel-Hamas conflict continues, the Biden administration remains cautious about openly engaging in the politics surrounding the Israeli government but remains focused on the humanitarian concerns in Rafah.