A Palestinian suspected of organizing illegal crossings of the Mediterranean to Italy and Greece was arrested on Monday by the General Director of State Security in Bir Hassan, in the southern suburbs of Beirut, the state-run National News Agency reported.

Here’s what we know:

    • According to the NNA, the suspect was arrested for having organized illegal crossings, mainly for Palestinians living in refugee camps in Beirut. These clandestine maritime departures took place from locations on the coasts of Metn, north of Beirut, and North Lebanon.

    • The suspect confessed to her involvement in a gang of smugglers made up of Lebanese, Syrians and Palestinians, who were preparing other illegal crossings to Europe during the months of August and September, the NNA reported.

    • Just over two weeks ago, 120 migrants from Akkar — most of them Lebanese but among them some Syrian and Palestinian refugees, en route to Italy — were rescued in Greek territorial waters after their boat broke down.

    • In April, dozens of people who also left North Lebanon on a makeshift boat were less fortunate: their vessel was shipwrecked off the coast of Tripoli. Dozens of passengers remain missing following the tragedy.