WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- President Barack Obama on Wednesday spoke with Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi, praising his efforts to help broker a ceasefire in the conflict flaring in the Middle East, the White House said.

Under the Egyptian-brokered agreement, Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire after more than a week of fighting in the Gaza Strip that has killed more than 100 Palestinians and five Israelis.

Obama spoke earlier with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.