Aug 15, 2014 07:11 PM EDT By J Baulkman, UniversityHerald Reporter

Students at Princeton University will hold a peaceful march and rally Sunday for the people of Gaza.

Princeton for Palestine -- a new group formed in response to the "most recent atrocities" committed on the people of Gaza by the state of Israel -- is hosting its first event "A Peaceful March and Rally for the People of Gaza" on Aug. 17 to "raise awareness about this humanitarian catastrophe."

 "According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), 1,962 Palestinians have been killed in the latest atrocities by the state of Israel, including at least 1,417 civilians, of whom 459 are children. This exceeds the combined number of children killed in the two previous conflicts in Gaza, 350 in 2008-9 and 35 in 2012," Organizing committee member Basma Qazi said in a statement.

Qazi added that at least 335,000 displaced persons remain in emergency shelters or with host families and emphasized that alternative housing will be needed for the approximately 100,000 people whose homes have been destroyed or severely damaged.

"We urge our fellow citizens to contact their elected officials and demand they take action to help the people of Gaza rebuild their infrastructure and prevent any further escalation of this crisis," Qazi said.

Confirmed speakers for the rally include Norman Finkelstein, political scientist & author, Chris Hedges, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, Shadee Elmasry, Director of Education at New Brunswick Islamic Center, Amani Al-Khatahtbeh, media relations specialist at the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, and Sherif Ibrahim, a local activist.

The demonstration will gather at Albert Hinds Plaza in front of Princeton Public Library starting at 12:30 p.m. and begin marching at 1:30 p.m., northwards up Nassau Street, ending with a rally at the 'Fountain of Freedom' in front of Woodrow Wilson Library, Princeton University.

Endorsing organizations include Princeton University Muslim Life Program, CODE PINK, Council on American Islamic Relations-NJ, Jewish Voice for Peace (Philadelphia Chapter), ANSWER Coalition, AMP (American Muslims for Palestine), International Action Center , Philadelphia Jews for a Just Peace, Christian-Jewish Alliance of Greater Philadelphia, Islamic Circle of North America of Greater Philadelphia, and New Brunswick Islamic Center.

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