Family calls for response after Australian wounded in reported Israeli troops gunfire.

The family of an Australian student is desperately seeking answers and justice after their daughter was allegedly shot by Israeli forces near her university campus in the West Bank. The 20-year-old, Ranem Abu-Izneid, suffered severe injuries and was flown back to Melbourne where doctors fear she may lose vision in one eye. It was a terrifying experience for Ranem, who thought she might never see her loved ones again, but she is now back in Australia.

Reflecting on the traumatic incident, Ranem shared from her hospital bed at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, "Nothing is certain. My life has been turned upside down. I still have a lot of surgeries ahead of me. I don't know if I will ever be able to go back to being the same person. Will I be able to continue my studies and pursue my dreams?"

Ranem, who is an Australian citizen, was in her third year of dentistry and had gone overseas to further her education. She recalls being inside her student accommodation last Friday in Abu Dis, a Palestinian village in the West Bank, when a commotion caught her attention. Her flatmate went to the window to investigate and was allegedly shot at by an Israeli soldier. Fortunately, the bullet missed both women, but it hit the top corner of the room and caused shrapnel to rain down on Ranem.

After undergoing surgery in Jerusalem, Ranem was subjected to a painful journey to Jordan before finally being flown back to Melbourne. Her mother, Rana Abu-Izneid, expressed her horror and disbelief at the situation, saying, "It's been horrific for our entire family. We can't believe this has happened to our daughter."

Although the Department of Foreign Affairs provided consular assistance, Ranem was ultimately placed on a commercial flight without a medical escort. This has caused outrage and disappointment among members of the Palestinian Australian New Zealand Medical Association, who are now supporting the family's quest for an independent investigation into the actions of the Israeli soldier.

Dr. Mohammed Irrimeh, from the association, expressed his frustration, saying, "It's so frustrating, I can't understand why this was allowed to happen." The Smart Traveller website advises against travel to the West Bank, but Abu Dis, the town where Ranem was staying, is considered a non-combat zone. Nine News has reached out for comments from Foreign Minister Penny Wong's office, the Israeli embassy in Australia, and the Israel Defence Forces.

On a lighter note, a cool change has brought some relief to the sweltering temperatures across Australia's south-east. To stay up-to-date with all the latest breaking news, sports, politics, and weather, be sure to download the 9News app. It's available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play, and you can receive notifications straight to your smartphone.

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