CHICAGO – A giant replica of an Israeli hostage’s bloody sweatpants was erected near the site of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Tuesday – while more than 100 hostages remain in the custody of Hamas terrorists.

At an intersection about a mile from the DNC, a thirty-foot replica of the bloody pants of Naama Levy, a 20-year-old Israeli woman whose brutal abduction by Hamas was captured on video and became a global symbol of the horrific October 7 attack, was erected.

In addition to the pants, several giant milk cartons with photos of all the US citizens still held captive by Hamas lined the sidewalk of the pop-up installation “Hostage Square”, which is intended to anchor the hostages in the memory of Americans.

Americans Edan Alexander, Sagui Dekel-Chen, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Omer Neutra and Keith Siegel were kidnapped by Hamas and are still in captivity, but their current status is unknown.

According to the American Jewish Committee, the bodies of Judith and Gadi Haggai and Itay Chen are still in the possession of the terrorist group.

“I want these names to be on everyone’s lips,” said Lea Silvert, whose aunt and uncle were killed by the terror group before their bodies were returned to the Palestinian enclave.

“I want people to know that it is an American value, a democratic value, not to want people to be held against their will.”

Silvert, 30, said her relatives, Judith Weinstein Haggai and Gadi Haggai, lived in Kibbutz Nir Oz, which was attacked by Hamas terrorists more than 10 months ago. The Israeli couple leave behind four children and seven grandchildren who are deeply shocked by their killings and hope to bring their bodies home for a dignified burial.

“They just lived a very peaceful, creative life,” Silvert told the Chicago Post after traveling from her home in Cambridge, Massachusetts. “They were a friend and neighbor to everyone.”

The “Hostage Square” installation was erected as the war between Israel and Hamas looms over the DNC and the 2024 elections, while Washington pushes for a ceasefire that could lead to the long-awaited release of prisoners.

Elan Carr, CEO of the Israel-American Council, said in an interview that most Americans support Israel. He described the protesters who caused chaos outside the DNC as a “fringe group of the American public.”

“We represent the majority opinion, not these people who are burning flags and tearing things down and denying students access to campus,” Carr said.

“We are here to call attention to the brutal cruelty of Hamas, a terrorist organization… Israel is on the front lines of the war for American values ​​and civilization itself, and Israel must be given the opportunity to win,” Carr continued. “We are here to say that Israel must win.”

Some of Hamas’ cruelty became clear when a video emerged showing Levy being forced into the back of a Hamas vehicle with her hands tied behind her back and wearing bloody sweatpants – the inspiration for part of the exhibition.

Israeli Ambassador to the United States Michael Herzog told reporters on Tuesday that the Israeli hostages have been held for 319 days, calling it an “open wound” for their families and the nation.

“We are not negotiating with Mother Theresa. We have no illusions, but we must keep up the pressure until we bring her back home,” he said.

President Biden blamed Hamas for backing away from a possible peace agreement and stressed that the US and Israel were committed to a ceasefire in the bloody fighting.

The terrorist group, in turn, claimed that Biden’s remarks did not reflect “the true position” of the lengthy talks and accused the US of bias against Israel.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken continued his efforts to bring at least temporary peace to the Gaza Strip this week, while also reaching an agreement to release the hostages during his tour of the Middle East.

Blinken warned on Monday that the latest negotiations were “probably the best, perhaps the last, opportunity to bring the hostages home, achieve a ceasefire, and put everyone on a better path to lasting peace and security.”

Israel announced on Tuesday that its forces had recovered the bodies of six hostages from Gaza. In total, Hamas is holding an estimated 109 hostages, about a third of whom are believed to be dead.

The Israeli military campaign in Gaza following the October 7 terrorist attack that killed thousands of Gaza residents, including women and children, is expected to have a strong presence at the DNC throughout the week.

With post wires