MOSCOW, December 12. /TASS/. The latest round of escalation in the conflict between Israel and Palestine could spin out of control and spread to other regions of the world, advisor to the Palestinian President Mahmoud al-Habbash stated at the plenary session of the XIX International Muslim Forum.

"The conflict in Palestine could turn into a religious conflict, go beyond Palestine, come to different parts of the world, it could spread everywhere. This will happen if Israel does not stop its racist policy, if it continues to advocate aggression and trample on religious values," he said.

He noted that "the whole world may become hostage to this conflict, and will be forced to pay a very high price for simply watching and doing nothing."

The situation in the Middle East sharply escalated after Hamas penetrated Israel from the Gaza Strip on October 7, accompanied by the killing of border settlement residents and the seizure of more than 200 hostages. Hamas calls the attack a response to the actions of the Israeli authorities against the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. Israel has declared a complete blockade of Gaza and has begun retaliatory strikes on the sector and parts of Lebanon and Syria. Clashes are also taking place in the West Bank of the Jordan River.