GAZA, ISRAEL: Controversial Black Lives Matter activist Shaun King is facing criticism from the family of two American hostages he claimed to have "worked frantically behind the scenes" in freeing from Hamas in Gaza.
The family of Natalie Shoshana Raanan, 17, and her mother Judith Tai Raanan, 59, who recently returned to Israel after being held in Gaza, has vehemently denied King's claims of involvement.
Shaun King's controversial involvement in Gaza hostage release
Natalie and Judith were among over 200 hostages taken by the Palestinian militant group following a tragic incident in Israel on October 7. King alleged that "dozens of us" had worked tirelessly and that the Raanan family "have been supporters of mine, and have protested police violence in America alongside us."
However, the Raanan family promptly rebuked King's statements, making it clear that they had no association with him. In a statement, they stated, "First and foremost, we make it clear 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," reported TMZ.
Uri Raanan, Natalie's father, also refuted any ties to King, revealing that his son Ben had contacted King without the family's knowledge.
Raanan also said, "We reached out to many people far and wide to bring Natalie and Judith to safety. We are not affiliated with Mr. King," talking to The Daily Beast. Additionally, Raanan suggested that Israel had pressured their family to distance themselves from King.
In response to the allegations, King has maintained that he is telling the truth and provided screenshots of various interactions, primarily with Ben Raanan, the son of Uri and brother of Natalie.
King claimed to have spoken directly with the Raanan family and insisted that he kept records of these conversations, where he assisted the hostage family.
Criticism mounts against Shaun King
Online users were quick to ridicule King for commenting on this sensitive subject and "making it about him."
A user stated, "I mean…if someone lies about their skin color to grift is there much they won’t lie about?" Another added, "To use an opportunity to make it about YOU in such trying times is an utter disgrace." "What a grifting clown," a third added.
"He’s such a fake in every way," stated a user. "You know it’s one thing to lie it’s another thing to do it when it absolutely can be proven false," read yet another tweet. "Grifting off this horrible suffering. Absolutely disgusting," read another.
