Storyline A recently freed Palestinian has described his harrowing experience of physical torture, medical neglect and severe deprivation during 19 months in Israeli custody, during an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN) in Gaza. According to the first-phase ceasefire agreement for Gaza, Hamas released a total of 20 Israeli detainees in two batches on October 13. In return, Israel freed nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, and gradually transferred hundreds of the bodies of deceased Palestinian detainees. Among those released was Ramez Issam Abu Azab, who recounted the ordeal in chilling detail. "I spent a year and seven months under detention from March 26, 2024 till the day we were released. I suffered a great deal. When they transferred me to the occupied territories, they subjected me with electric shock. They had taser guns and shocked us with them many times. Such electrocution would keep us from falling sleep. The conditions under detention were extremely harsh with very limited food and water, but the torture kept coming. It was really hard for us to get medical help. If you tried to seek treatment by asking the prison guards, you'd get nothing from them. And the doctor wouldn't treat us either. Your condition would not improve, and you'd spread it to other inmates," he said. "When it came to food and water, they would keep us away from clean drinking water for six hours and do it constantly. We would go without water all these six hours as a result. The extreme thirst left our mouths parched. Food was severely scarce, and what little is available was of poor quality. They would distribute rice with trays - sometimes it was just half a tray and sometimes a quarter of it, and this rice was even uncooked. We would fall sleep hungry. The rice they gave us was as hard as pebbles," he added. Azab said the pain of detention was compounded by personal loss, as he learned of the deaths and injuries of loved ones while behind bars. "I lost many friends while I was in prison. And I lost my mother before I was arrested. After I went into detention, my cousin Ahmed Tarek was martyred. I lost many friends, and my neighbor was also martyred. I was shocked to learn that my brother Hazem got injured. I felt deep sorrow for my brothers Hazem and Hatim. I felt sad for the suffering they lived through; they had a hard life. The war has dealt a major blow to us. We endured so much," he said. Now that he has been released, he hopes that Gaza's universities can be rebuilt so that he can return to school and get his life back. Shotlist: Ramallah, West Bank - Oct 13, 2025: 1. Various of bus carrying released Palestinian prisoners, welcoming crowds taking photos 2. Various of released Palestinian prisoners getting off bus, walking through crowd Gaza Strip - Recent: 3. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Ramez Issam Abu Azab, former prisoner held by Israel (partially overlaid with shots 4-5): "I spent a year and seven months in detention until March 26, 2024 when we were released. I suffered a great deal. When they transferred me to the occupied territories, they subjected me with electric shock. They had taser guns and shocked us with them many times. Such electrocution would keep us from falling sleep. The conditions in detention were extremely harsh with very limited food and water, but the torture kept coming. It was really hard for us to get medical help. If you tried to seek treatment by asking the prison guards, you'd get nothing from them. And the doctor wouldn't treat us either. Your condition would not improve, and you'd spread it to other inmates." [SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 4. Ramez Issam Abu Azab walking on street Gaza Strip - Oct 16, 2025: 5. Traffic, pedestrians [SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 6. Various of traffic, pedestrians Gaza Strip - Recent: 7. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Ramez Issam Abu Azab, former prisoner held by Israel: "When it came to food and water, they would keep us away from clean drinking water for six hours and do it constantly. We would go without water all these six hours as a result. The extreme thirst left our mouths parched. Food was severely scarce, and what little is available was of poor quality.They would distribute rice with trays - sometimes it was just half a tray and sometimes a quarter of it, and this rice was even uncooked. We would fall sleep hungry. The rice they gave us was as hard as pebbles." Gaza Strip - Oct 16, 2025: 8. Various of traffic, pedestrians Gaza Strip - Recent: 9. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Ramez Issam Abu Azab, former prisoner held by Israel (starting with shot 8/partially overlaid with shot 10): "I lost many friends while I was in prison. And I lost my mother before I was arrested. After I went into detention, my cousin Ahmed Tarek was martyred. I lost many friends, and my neighbor was also martyred. I was shocked to learn that my brother Hazem got injured. I felt deep sorrow for my brothers Hazem and Hatim. I felt sad for the suffering they lived through; they had a hard life. The war has dealt a major blow to us. We endured so much." [SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 10. Ramez Issam Abu Azab walking among collapsed buildings [SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] Gaza Strip - Oct 16, 2025: 11. Various of tents. [Restrictions : No access Chinese mainland]