When is a terrorist a rebel ?

Generally you don’t use the word terrorist if you support the cause..

My worry is that Syrian government has been replaced by a group that can be as dangerous as the Syrian government (and that those that had freed this country are terrorists as per UK) so I , personally, can’t celebrate this and would encourage anyone not to celebrate it as they’d be celebrating terrorism.

also, agreeing with OP the double face of the press calling them rebels when they’re terrorists as per UK government

All the coverage I am seeing is celebrating the liberation of Syrians ftom a brutal dictatorship. There is much nervousness about what happens next, because of the nature & links of HTS, but its right that there is hope for the spirit of the Syrian people. The 'rebels' are a very mixed group & there has been mass public participation in this last phase & the collapse of the state.

This discussion is not really reflecting what is happening in Syria.

I thought it was pretty obvious the OP was referring to the Syrian rebels.

So now we celebrate terrorists ? These rebels are proscribed terrorists by UN and many countries (see my previous post from Today). From what I’ve read in the last year in this board celebrating terrorism in this country can get you into trouble.

from wiki

As of 2021, HTS is considered the most powerful military faction within the Syrian opposition.[65] It is considered a terrorist group by the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, European Union and some other countries.

Mandela is not a good example. The ANC's campaign of sabotage was designed carefully to avoid civilian casualties and they didn't operate primarily according to terrorist norms even though there was violence. And the apartheid regime was grotesque systematic racism ie the whole structure of the state was built on the denial of the human rights of the majority of the population.

We should and do celebrate them.

Using them to suggest some terrorists might be viewed differently is not a good comparison.

It's a very layered question. I do agree that history can redefine the terrorists. Does the advantage of hindsight change opinions. Nelson Mandela is obviously the prime case here

Also when a government behaves in a way that is not "good" and sometimes with the same crimes as the terrorists can terrorism be a legitimate fight back?At what point does it change from rebels with ideals to just cruelty and violence? Is it power, greed or desperation?

And if there were no rebels could governments just behave any way they want without repercussions?

I have no answers just questions..

I was merely pointing out that it isn't always black and white when it came to the French resistance. You took it as I was applying to Hamas and ran with it.
Your choice.
A group that entered another country to slaughter, rape, torture, kidnap and take dead bodies as trophies whilst shouting Allah akbar and filming their joy.
This applies to the IDF too, without the Allahu Akbar.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/idf-sexual-abuse-palestine-gaza-b2498888.html
https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/08/26/israel-palestinian-healthcare-workers-tortured
https://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/un-human-rights-office-opt-statement-killing-and-arbitrary-detention-health-workers-gaza
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/washington-post-highlights-thousands-of-clips-by-idf-troops-showing-apparent-violations-of-international-law/ar-AA1vcyIa?ocid=BingNewsSerp

Actually it's not. The OP posed a question as the thread title. She didn't make a statement but a question.

We all know how some support Hamas and make excuses for them. We've even seen people I'm the UK and the US wear their colours, have signs of support, make excuses, chants of support to another terrorist group the Houthis as well.

I think there is no grey area and it's black and white with Hamas. Do others. They are stand out terrorists. They were running their country and could have made it much better they chose to not to.

The Syrians who have taken down assad are viewed completely differently.

Yes, we should celebrate those who risked their lives to resist the Nazi occupation of France. I never thought I would have to actually say this.

ANY group of men that cart women of in the back of trucks for sexual slaves and beheaded people in the street are terrorists

You can give them any name you like - rebels - freedom fighters - resistance - terrorists - mentally ill - They are ALL the same.

Despite doing all the above when they are called ‘rebels’ it’s usually be star the person who is talking about them has sympathies towards them.

It's pretty obvious that the OP is talking about the Syrian rebels that have captured Damascus and are saying Assad has fled - it's all over the front of the BBC this morning.

She's clearly trying to understand why they're considered rebels by the BBC and not terrorists - but some people are so obsessed with Hamas they they can't see beyond them and have to make everything about them.

I don't hold out much hope for this group. I can't think of a country where rebels have taken over and things have worked out well.

Which groups are you referring to as rebels not terrorists op?

Indeed.

Hamas ran gaza. They are also terrorists. No one sane could possibly put them in a grey area. Hamas had control of gaza already. No need to take over since they were governing.

The Syrian groups taking down assad didn't run around raping, kidnapping and slaughtering in another country.

Glad the US and west stayed well clear. Hopefully they might have free elections. Then wait and see what's next.

This lot aren't Hamas though are they. They wanted rid of Assad and have fought their way in.

No room for equivocation on Hamas. Definitely terrorists. And they aren't rebels because they were in charge in Gaza.

I think it's very black and white with a group such as Hamas. A group that entered another country to slaughter, rape, torture, kidnap and take dead bodies as trophies whilst shouting Allah akbar and filming their joy. No grey area for me with Hamas. Do you view hamas as terrorists or is that a grey area for you? I think it's pretty black and white and Hamas are terrorists.

The German occupiers viewed the Resistants as terrorists.

The resistants' actions against them put the civilian population at huge risk of reprisals. Should we celebrate the Resistance?
I don't think it is black and white.

Anyone that calls Hamas rebels has frankly lost the plot in my opinion.

So do you brand Hamas as terrorists then? After all you reckon it depends on who's branding them.

This.

Vile scum.

@SmashedBaubles - this I understand

I don't think he was charged under terrorism offences actually. He was arrested and convicted for sabotage - which he was undoubtedly involved in. He & the ANC bombed buildings/infrastructure at night to avoid civilian casualties. He was also convicted for treason & conspiring to overthrow the government. Some people called him a terrorist but they never really got to the guerilla war stage they'd been planning. The Americans had him on their terrorist list more because of his links to communism than violence.