A couple and their three children from Sakhnin in northern Israel, who joined ISIS last year after travelling to Turkey and sneaking over the border into Syria, have returned to Turkey. They met with family members and in the coming days are expected to return to Israel. The couple will be arrested upon their return after which the husband is expected to be charged.

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The family left Israel in 2015 for Romania in order to attend a graduation ceremony for a family member who finished their studies. After arriving in Romania, they decided to enter Turkey and attempted to cross illegally into Syria. After their family learned of their intentions, they flew to Turkey to try and persuade them to return to Israel, but were unsuccessful.

The family reuniting in Turkey

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A Galilee resident who knows the family said the, "family members went to Turkey and made every effort to get them to come back. In the end, they managed to find them and explain the dangers of life with ISIS. The mother and the daughters did not want to go to Syria, but the husband insisted. Right now, I don't know what needs to be done to get them back to Israel, but it is important. I hope to see them back with their family."

The mayor of Sakhnin, Mazen Ghanaym, said that when he learned the family joined ISIS, "We were completely surprised. These are respectful people who want for nothing. The husband works and is organized, but it is a shame he made a decision like that. We are against Arab citizens joining organizations like ISIS. Our religion is different to their criminal actions."