The families of two American hostages freed by Hamas terrorists have accused Black Lives Matter activist Shaun King of lying when he claimed he worked “surprisingly behind the scenes” to help secure their release.
Natalie Raanan, 17, and her mother, Judith Tai Raanan, 59, were released by Hamas on Friday after spending nearly two weeks in detention following the terrorist group’s bloody October 7 attack on Israel.
After news broke that the mother and daughter were free, King, 44, appeared to take credit for their safe return.
“Hamas has just released teenager Natalie Raanan and her mother. I am thankful. As I said last week, Natalie and her family have been my supporters and protested police brutality in America with us,” King wrote in an Instagram post on Friday.
“I am also grateful to the Qatari government for helping to negotiate this matter. Dozens of us are working hard behind the scenes to help make this happen. I spoke to Natalie’s family this afternoon and they are awaiting more updates.”
King’s Instagram post came after news broke that Hamas released Natalie and Judith on FridayInstagram/Shaun King
However, Raanan’s family members said the activist fabricated his involvement and that he did nothing to help, according to reports.
“First of all, we make it clear that he is lying! Our family is not and has nothing to do with it, either directly or indirectly. Not him and not anything he claims to represent,” a member of Raanan’s family wrote in a statement obtained by TMZ.
Natalie’s father, Uri Raanan, later revealed that her brother Ben had been in contact with King before he was released by Hamas but said other family members were unaware of his involvement.
“We contacted many people far and wide to get Natalie and Judith safe. We have nothing to do with Tuan Raja,” the father told the Daily Beast.
American-Israeli hostage Judith Raanan (R) and her daughter, Natalie (L), were delivered to the Red Cross on Friday, Oct. 20. 2023, and return to Israel. Government of Israel/UPI/Shutterstock Natalie and Judith are seen talking on the phone with President Biden after being taken hostage and later released by Hamas. US Embassy in Jerusalem/AFP via Getty Images
“Ben, my son spoke to him without anyone in the family knowing until today. Our family in Israel posted this statement denying we knew her, before we found out about Ben talking to her. We have nothing more to say.”
King is now on the defensive following the family’s statement about his involvement, saying he has “spoken directly and repeatedly with this family” since Oct. 9. and that for him to lie about helping save the mother and daughter “would throw everything away. .”
“On the advice of my attorney, I save every text, DM, screenshot, and, per state law, record all my phone conversations. Thank God,” he wrote in a social media post with a screenshot of what he purportedly was a conversation with Natalie’s brother.
King has shared screenshots of his conversation with Ben Raanan’s family members since his family publicly called him out for lying about helping with the release.Getty Images for Universal King released a statement following allegations made by Raanan’s family about his involvement in their beloved family’s release.Instagram/Shaun King
“My fear is that I will be framed by the American government. I also know the Israeli government is a big liar. Receipts are still useful.
King’s post included a statement by Ben saying he contacted the BLM activist knowing “he has a lot of connections in the Palestinian government” and that while they may have “political differences,” they both value human life.
In one of the alleged messages from Ben shared by King, the brother asked him to remove a comment he left on one of King’s posts on October 9, saying he was messaging the activist about his sister’s disappearance.
A statement from Ben Raanan was shared by King after the family claimed he did not help in the release of Natalie and Judith.Instagram/Shaun King
Ben claims he got death threats because of the comment and muted his feed because it was too hard to see pictures of Judith and Natalie.
King shared that he recorded his conversation with Ben for “his own protection”, but it is unknown if he made Ben aware that he was keeping the recording.
On Saturday afternoon, King posted the same defense on Xclaiming that he had “lobbied relentlessly for [Natalie’s] go behind the scenes with an eclectic group of 30+ people who wouldn’t normally work together or hang out” but didn’t explain who he was working with.
Comments left by Ben Raanan on King’s post following the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7. Instagram/Shaun King King shared a screenshot that allegedly shows Ben requesting that the comment be removed from the post.Instagram/Shaun King
The Post contacted King for comment on his involvement with the hostage release.
King first posted about the teenager being held hostage by Hamas on October 10, writing that “Natalie and her family are my supporters, protesting police brutality in the United States with me, and have spoken out against injustice in Israel.”
“If he is still alive, I can secretly help match his return. Please send me proof of life or death,” he wrote in an Instagram post before he and his mother were released.
Hamas’ rampage on October 7 against southern Israelis left 1,400 people dead and 222 others taken hostage to the Gaza Strip.
The Chicago-area mother and daughter were the first hostages released by the terrorists.
The Qatari government played a key role in securing their release, according to reports.
The woman was released due to Judith’s deteriorating health.
One expert warned that Hamas released the woman for “calculated reasons.”
“Hamas doesn’t have a humanitarian bone in their body,” former FBI agent and hostage team expert Christopher O’Leary told The Post.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
