The designated "safe zone" in Gaza, where the Israeli occupation military has ordered displaced Palestinians to go for safety, has been attacked at least 97 times since May, according to a BBC Verify report on Wednesday.

The so-called humanitarian zone was established by the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) during the first month of the war on Gaza. At the time, the IOF claimed they were assigned to protect Palestinians and ensure the safety of civilians.

The coastal area was then expanded to include Khan Younis and Deir al-Balah, and shelter over a million Palestinians, including displaced civilians, forced to live in tents with very limited infrastructure and almost negligible access to humanitarian aid. 

However, the humanitarian zone has come under Israeli attack almost a hundred times since May, with the IOF claiming they were targeting Hamas fighters operating in the area. According to BBC Verify's analysis, attacks within the "humanitarian zone" have escalated since May 2024, with at least 22 strikes reported this month alone. 

Local media sources report that over 550 people were killed in the 97 strikes documented by BBC Verify.

Gavin Kelleher, an access manager for the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) in Gaza, reported that strikes, including those from Israeli warships and drones, occur at a near-daily rate within the "humanitarian zone." Despite the zone's designation, heavy fire remains frequent. 

Meanwhile, Khaled Abdel Rahman, a resident of the zone, told BBC that daily bombardments often result in injuries and deaths. He explained that they had relocated to Khan Younis, hoping for safety, but instead found danger, with fear ruling their lives and no real sense of security.

The 'uncertainty' in safe zones and safe returns 

BBC relied majorly on Palestinian eyewitnesses and videos published on social media documenting the strikes and their aftermath, most of which showed the lifeless or scorched bodies of women and children. 

Seven of the recorded strikes have been reported to have killed 20 or more people each, with the deadliest occurring on July 13, resulting in over 90 deaths, according to the Gaza health ministry, first responders, and medics. 

Nine of the strikes were within 100 meters of buildings belonging to al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah, and four were within 150 meters of the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis.

Palestinians in the zone also face ongoing uncertainty, as its boundary has shifted 20 times, with its size ranging from about 7 km² when first established to 72 km² at its largest.

While the IOF claims that residents can return once the danger has passed, it remains unclear how residents can know when it's safe to return, also given that only two announcements were made on the military's social media regarding the "safe return". 

International organizations repeatedly warned of the absence of safe zones in Gaza. In February 2024, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths said safe zones in Gaza are an "illusion".

"There is not anywhere safe for people to go in Gaza, it is an illusion to think there is some wonderful part of Gaza where you can go and be safe from the war because the displacement continues ... as the war spreads."

Read more: No safe place in Gaza, UN agencies need security: UNSC