OTTAWA - Canada is cautiously welcoming an open-ended ceasefire announced between Israel and Hamas.

But Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird took another opportunity to pounce on Hamas for its role in the suffering of the Palestinian people.

And Baird said he expected that Israel would once again launch counter-attacks if Hamas fired more rockets toward Israeli territory.

Israel and Gaza's ruling Hamas agreed to the Egypt-brokered ceasefire Tuesday, halting seven weeks of violence that has seen more than 2,200 people killed.

Hamas, however, said it would rearm itself, raising the spectre of more violence to come.

Baird urged Hamas to change course, and to disarm.