At least 26 Palestinians were killed and at least 175 were wounded as they made their way to receive food in the Gaza Strip, according to health officials and witnesses.

Witnesses said Israeli forces fired on crowds around 1,000 yards away from an aid site run by the Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. A Palestinian journalist told the BBC that thousands of Palestinians had gathered near the aid site near Gaza's southern city of Rafah when Israeli tanks approached and opened fire on the crowd.

The Israeli Defense Forces said it is "currently unaware of injuries caused by IDF fire within the Humanitarian Aid distribution site," adding that "the matter is still under review."

The foundation said in a statement that it delivered 16 truckloads of aid "without incident" early on Sunday. It has denied previous accounts of chaos and gunfire around its sites, which are in Israeli military zones where independent access is limited.

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In its statement, the foundation dismissed what it referred to as "false reporting about deaths, mass injuries and chaos."

The organization's distribution of aid has been marred by chaos, with multiple witnesses having said Israeli troops fired on crowds near the delivery sites. Before Sunday, at least six people had been killed and more than 50 wounded, according to local health officials.

The foundation says the private security contractors guarding its sites have not fired on the crowds. The Israeli military has said it fired warning shots in previous incidents.

As thousands of people headed toward the distribution site hours before dawn, Israeli forces ordered them to disperse and return later, witnesses said. When the crowds reached the Flag Roundabout, around 1,000 yards away, at around 3 a.m., the military opened fire, the witnesses said.

"There was fire from all directions, from naval warships, from tanks and drones," Amr Abu Teiba, who was in the crowd, said.

He said he observed at least 10 bodies with gunshot wounds and several other wounded people, including women. People used carts to carry the victims to the field hospital.

Another witness, Ibrahim Abu Saoud, gave a nearly identical account. Abu Saoud said he saw many people with gunshot wounds, including a young man who he said had died at the scene.

Mohammed Abu Teaima said he saw Israeli forces open fire and kill his cousin and another woman as they were on their way to the distribution site. He said his cousin was shot in his chest and died at the scene, while many others were wounded, including his brother-in-law.

"They opened heavy fire directly towards us," he said.

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Israel and the U.S., which also backs the foundation, say the new aid system seeks to prevent Hamas from taking away aid. Israel has not provided any evidence of systematic diversion and the U.N. denies it has happened.

U.N. agencies and major aid groups have refused to work with the new system, arguing that it violates humanitarian principles since it allows Israel to control who receives aid and forces people to relocate to distribution sites.

The U.N. system has struggled to bring in aid after Israel recently slightly eased its total blockade of the territory. The groups say Israel's restrictions, the breakdown of law and order and widespread looting make it extremely difficult to deliver aid to Palestinians in Gaza.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Hugh Jackman's longtime friend is sharing an update on how the actor is handling his divorce from his ex Deborra-Lee Furness and her recent statement about "betrayal" in their marriage of 30 years.

During a Thursday appearance on the Australian radio show "Ben Fordham Live," Gus Warland, who said that he has been Jackman's best friend since they attended kindergarten together in 1973, was asked about the emotional statement that Furness released after she officially filed for divorce from the 56-year-old "X-Men" star earlier this week.

In her statement, Furness spoke out about navigating the "breakdown of an almost three-decade marriage" and the "traumatic journey of betrayal," adding that "it's a profound wound that cuts deep."

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The Australian actress's divorce filing and comments came after the former couple announced their amicable separation after 27 years together in September 2023.

"It’s not just that statement, but just the last couple of years have been difficult," Warland said.

"No one wants anyone to go through what they’ve been through, and, of course, they go through everything publicly because of the type of people and the fame that they have," he continued.

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Warland explained that he knows both Jackman and Furness well and they had named him godfather to their first child, Oscar, 25.  The Emmy Award winner and Furness are also parents to daughter Ava, 19.

"One thing that I’ve been really strict on, or disciplined on — not just for me but a whole lot of other mates that love them both — is to let them do what they've had to do," Warland said.

The TV and radio personality shared that he had recently visited Jackman, who he refers to as "Jacko."

"I was over in New York with Jacko just last month and he’s fine," Warland said. "He is going along well. He’s moving on with his life and I hope that Deb does as well."

"It's a long, long time that they were together and they've got two beautiful kids together so I just go to the kids and go, what can we do to make sure that they're going to get through this as well as possible."

Furness officially filed for divorce from Jackman in New York on Tuesday.

According to People, Furness' lawyer also submitted filings related to the duo's settlement, health care coverage and medical child support. The former couple tied the knot in 1996, when Jackman was 27 and Furness was 40.

Per the filing, the couple's divorce is uncontested and will only need a judge to sign off.

She subsequently released a statement to the Daily Mail in which she said, "My heart and compassion goes out to everyone who has traversed the traumatic journey of betrayal."

'It’s a profound wound that cuts deep, however, I believe in a higher power and that God/the universe, whatever you relate to as your guidance, is always working FOR us," Furness continued. "This belief has helped me navigate the breakdown of an almost three-decade marriage."

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"Even when we are presented with apparent adversity, it is leading us to our greatest good, our true purpose. It can hurt, but in the long run, returning to yourself and living within your own integrity, values and boundaries is liberation and freedom."

Furness said her main take away from her divorce is "that none of this is personal." 

"We are all on our individual journeys and I believe that the relationships in our lives are not random. We are drawn to people, we invite them in, in order to learn our lessons and to recognize and heal the broken parts of ourselves...I remain grateful," Furness concluded. 

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In January, Jackman and his former "Music Man" co-star Sutton Foster sparked romance rumors when they were spotted holding hands while going out to dinner in Los Angeles. Jackman played conman Harold Hill while Foster played his love interest Marian Paroo in the Broadway revival of the musical, which ran from February 2022 to January 2023.

Foster filed for divorce from her husband, Ted Griffin, in October after 10 years of marriage. 

Jackman and Furness announced their separation in September 2023 and shared a joint statement with People at the time.

"We have been blessed to share almost 3 decades together as husband and wife in a wonderful, loving marriage," they said. "Our journey now is shifting, and we have decided to separate to pursue our individual growth.

"Our family has been and always will be our highest priority. We undertake this next chapter with gratitude, love, and kindness. We greatly appreciate your understanding in respecting our privacy as our family navigates this transition in all of our lives."

"This is the sole statement either of us will make," the statement, signed "Deb and Hugh Jackman," concluded.