GENEVA: The UN health agency on Tuesday said Israel should let it stock medical supplies to deal with a “catastrophic” health situation in Gaza before it seizes control of Gaza City.

Israel has said its military would “take control” of Gaza City in a plan approved by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security cabinet that sparked a wave of global criticism.

“We want to stock up, and we all hear about ‘more humanitarian supplies are allowed in’ — well it’s not happening yet, or it’s happening at a way too low a pace,” said Rik Peeperkorn, the World Health Organization’s representative in the Palestinian territories.

Fifty-two percent of medicines were running at zero stock, Peeperkorn said, speaking from Jerusalem.

UN agencies warned last month that famine was unfolding in Gaza, with Israel severely restricting aid entry.