"Controversy Surrounds BLM Activist Shaun King's Claims on American Hostage Release in Gaza"

 "Controversy Surrounds BLM Activist Shaun King's Claims on American Hostage Release in Gaza"

Shaun king

In a surprising turn of events, the family of two American hostages, Natalie Raanan (17) and her mother, Judith Tai Raanan (59), who were recently freed by Hamas, has accused Black Lives Matter (BLM) activist Shaun King of fabricating his involvement in their release. Following nearly two weeks in captivity after the terror group's attack on Israel on October 7, the mother and daughter were released by Hamas, igniting a debate about the extent of Shaun King's role in their freedom.

Shaun King, a prominent activist known for his advocacy against police violence in the United States, appeared to take credit for their release in an Instagram post. He stated, "Hamas has just freed the teenager Natalie Raanan and her mother. I’m grateful. As I said last week, Natalie and her family have been supporters of mine and protested police violence in America alongside us."

However, members of the Raanan family dispute King's claims, vehemently stating, "First and foremost, we make it clear that he is lying! Our family does not and did not have anything to do with him, neither directly nor indirectly. Not to him and not to anything he claims to represent."

Natalie's father, Uri Raanan, later revealed that her brother Ben had been in contact with King before her release by Hamas. Despite this, the rest of the family had no knowledge of King's involvement. "We reached out to many people far and wide to bring Natalie and Judith to safety. We are not affiliated with Mr. King," he explained.

On Friday, October 20, 2023, American-Israeli hostages, Judith Raanan (on the right) and her daughter, Natalie (on the left), were safely delivered to the custody of the Red Cross and subsequently returned to Israel

King responded to the family's accusations with a strong defense. He claimed that he had been in direct contact with the Raanan family since October 9 and that he had meticulously documented every interaction. In a bid to substantiate his claims, he shared screenshots of his alleged conversations with Natalie's brother, Ben, who reached out to him because he believed King had connections within the Palestinian government.

Furthermore, King revealed that he had recorded his conversations with Ben for his own protection, fearing potential framing by the American and Israeli governments. He stated, "At the advice of my attorneys, I kept every text, DM, screenshot, and, according to state law, recorded all of my phone conversations. Thank God."

Shaun king

In one of the messages allegedly from Ben shared by King, the brother asked him to remove a comment he had left on one of King's posts on October 9, stating that he had messaged the activist about his missing sister. Ben expressed that he was receiving death threats due to the comment and was muting his feed because it was too distressing to view photos of his mother and sister in captivity.

Although King shared that he had recorded his conversations with Ben for his own protection, it remains unclear whether he made Ben aware that he was keeping these records.

On Saturday evening, King posted a similar defense on his social media, stating that he had been "lobbying nonstop for [Natalie’s] release behind the scenes with an eclectic group of 30+ people that would normally never work together or get along." However, he did not elaborate on the details of his lobbying efforts.

The Raanan family's dispute with King's claims adds an intriguing layer to the already complex situation surrounding the release of the American hostages held by Hamas. As the Raanans work to put their traumatic experience behind them, King faces scrutiny over his involvement in their liberation.

Hamas' attack on southern Israeli communities on October 7 had devastating consequences, with 1,400 people losing their lives and 222 others taken hostage to the Gaza Strip. The release of Natalie and Judith Raanan marked a significant development, with reports suggesting that the government of Qatar played a vital role in securing their freedom.

While the controversy between Shaun King and the Raanan family continues to unfold, questions persist about the extent of his involvement in the hostages' release and the role played by various actors in this complex geopolitical landscape. As the Raanans seek to recover from their harrowing ordeal, the truth behind their release remains a subject of debate and speculation.