Qatar said Friday it was pursuing efforts to “bridge the gap” between Israel and Palestinian group Hamas to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and release Israeli captives held there. The Gulf emirate, the United States and Egypt, have been engaged in months of negotiations for a ceasefire in Israel’s war on Gaza that erupted on 7 October. There has been one seven-day pause in November that led to the release of more than 100 hostages. Efforts since have been deadlocked. “We have continued our efforts without interruption over the last few days,” Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman A…