Beirut - Lebanese Christian MP Michel Aoun, a close ally of Islamist movement Hezbollah said Thursday he will not meet UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon during his visit to Lebanon in protest what he called the UN's "silence" on Gaza.

"The fighting must stop and the UN should help in this regard," Aoun was quoted by Lebanese radio as saying.

The UN chief is scheduled to pay a visit to Lebanon on Friday and to deliver a speech in parliament during his two-day visit.

At least 1,040 Palestinians have been killed and more than 5,000 wounded during an 18-day offensive by Israel on Gaza.

Aoun said Ban Ki-moon must explain what the international body has done to stop the "tragedy" in Gaza. dpa