What's a 'militant'?

My friend Yisrael (pictured) has an op-ed in today's JPost in which he takes apart the media's sham of referring to 'Palestinian' terrorists as 'militants.' A New York Times July 6 report by Isabel Kershner had me mixed up. The headline read "Israeli Offensive in Central Gaza Kills 11 Militants" and the lead sentence began: "At least 11 Palestinian militants were killed in airstrikes and armed