This paper engages in a critical comparative analysis of Israeli discourse on the Gaza Strip across two pivotal periods: the lead up to the Gaza Disengagement Plan in the mid-2000s, and the era following the events of October 2023, especially as certain Israeli factions discuss plans to reoccupy the Strip. It asks, to what extent have Israeli narratives around Gaza changed and in which ways. Specifically, it explores the rhetorical continuities and transformations that have shaped Israeli political, societal and geopolitical perceptions of Gaza, scrutinizing the strategic narratives that underpin the justification either for its continued occupation and control or for its existence as a distinct, separate, and ‘hostile’ entity. Internal Israeli debates leading up to disengagement included those of both substance and process, i.e. the extent to which it was unilateral versus coordinated with Palestinian actors and whether it was an attempt to freeze any remaining peace process. The paper will compare narratives to specifically explore a) how the residents of Gaza are discussed – or not discussed – b) how the territory is described and discussed, and c) what verbs are used to describe Israeli actions toward Gaza. Using a critical discursive analytical approach, the paper will draw from a broad spectrum of sources, including Israeli and Arab newspaper coverage, testimonies from activists and dissidents, and the lived experiences of one of the authors during the lead up to disengagement. This will be complemented by contemporary digital discourse, including social media, blogs, and official communications since October 2023. Beyond tracing rhetoric itself, the analysis will engage with the surrounding political, social and geopolitical dynamics in Israel and Palestine, regionally and globally across the two periods. The study's objective is twofold: to provide a forensic account of the shifts in Israeli rhetoric regarding Gaza across disparate eras and to explore the implications of these discursive evolutions for addressing the current situation.