Students at a Bronx high school protested Thursday against Israel's incursion into the Gaza Strip.

The students, who attend Bronx International High School, staged a "die-in," in which they laid down in the school's hallways. The students say they also plan to get thousands of signatures in opposition of Middle East violence and send it to the White House.

"A lot of people still say, 'We'll never see peace in the Middle East,' " says Christine Celentano, who teaches at the school. "But if we change our thinking, maybe we will."

Israel waged a 22-day war meant to end rocket fire on southern Israel from Hamas-ruled Gaza. Cease-fires declared by both sides Sunday ended an offensive that killed some 1,300 Palestinians and wounded thousands, according to Gaza health officials, and inflicted widespread destruction in Gaza. Thirteen Israelis were also killed, according to the government.

AP wire services were used in this report.