John Baird. (Chris Roussakis/QMI Agency) Hamas-Israel ceasefire takes hold Fighting in Gaza as talks continue Israel, Hamas reach ceasefire Exclusive: Israel's ambassador to Canada reacts to ceasefire Will the ceasefire last?

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird is "cautiously optimistic" about the ceasefire announced Wednesday between Israel and the Islamist Hamas movement.

Speaking to reporters, Baird offered praise to the new Egyptian government for brokering the deal and "accepting its responsibilities as a major player in the region."

He also said the recent eight-day violent conflict was not a complex situation.

"You have a terrorist group launching rockets against Israel and it's not a complicated issue," he said. "We're not putting any blame on the Palestinian people. We're putting the blame on a terrorist organization, Hamas, who is sending rockets targeting civilians."

Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed for the first time reached Tel Aviv Kamel Amr announced the ceasefire would come into force at 9 p.m.

It would end days of ferocious air strikes and halt rocket attacks from Gaza that for the first time reached Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

The conflict killed more than 140 Palestinians and five Israelis.

-- with files from Reuters