Photos show West Bank championship showcasing purebred Arabian horses in Jericho

JERICHO, West Bank (AP) — Inside a covered hangar in Jericho, breeders and spectators gathered for the 18th Palestine Championship for Purebred Arabian Horses, an event dedicated to showcasing some of the finest bloodlines in the region.

Handlers guided meticulously groomed Arabians into the ring, presenting them before a panel of judges who assessed their movement, posture and overall conformation. The competition is divided into two groups, mares and stallions, with further categories based on the age of the animals. Horses trotted in controlled circles and paused to stand square as judges examined their features and took notes.

The championship brought together breeders from across the West Bank, each hoping to earn recognition for months of preparation and careful training. Between rounds, grooms made final adjustments before trophies and prizes were awarded to top competitors, drawing applause from the crowd inside the hangar.

Now in its 18th edition, the event highlights the enduring pride and cultural significance attached to purebred Arabian horses in the Palestinian territory.

This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.

Palestinian children watch the stallion Magic al-Malak, born in 2022, during the third and final day of the 18th Palestine Championship for Purebred Arabian Horses, in the West Bank city of Jericho, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)

A horse handler performs a routine with his horse during the 18th Palestine Championship for Purebred Arabian Horses, in the West Bank city of Jericho, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)

Owners and trainers pose for a photo with their horse Sultanat al-Tarab and her trophy, born in 2017 and a gold champion in her class, during the third and final day of the 18th Palestine Championship for Purebred Arabian Horses, in the West Bank city of Jericho, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)

Teams prepare their horses for the upcoming competition during the 18th Palestine Championship for Purebred Arabian Horses, in the West Bank city of Jericho, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)

Owners and trainers pose with their trophy winner, stallion RDS Leon, born in 2022 and a gold champion in his class, during the third and final day of the 18th Palestine Championship for Purebred Arabian Horses, in the West Bank city of Jericho, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)

A horse handler performs a routine with his horse during the 18th Palestine Championship for Purebred Arabian Horses, in the West Bank city of Jericho, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)

Horse handlers perform a routine with their horses while taking part in a competition during the 18th Palestine Championship for Purebred Arabian Horses, in the West Bank city of Jericho, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)

A horse handler coaxes his stallion Zayyan al-Majd, born in 2022, and a silver champion in his stallion class, during the third and final day of the 18th Palestine Championship for Purebred Arabian Horses, in the West Bank city of Jericho, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)

A horse handler prepares his horse during the 18th Palestine Championship for Purebred Arabian Horses, in the West Bank city of Jericho, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)

The champion horse Arabilla, born in 2025, poses with the championship trophy during the 18th Palestine Championship for Purebred Arabian Horses, in the West Bank city of Jericho, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)

A horse handler performs a routine with his horse Alia, born in 2020 and a silver champion in her class, while competing during the third and final day of the 18th Palestine Championship for Purebred Arabian Horses, in the West Bank city of Jericho, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)

A horse handler performs a routine with his horse Bella Rose, born in 2020, and a bronze champion in her class, while competing during the third and final day of the 18th Palestine Championship for Purebred Arabian Horses, in the West Bank city of Jericho, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo says he’s healthy and wants to play even as the Milwaukee Bucks continue to say the two-time MVP is too injured to take the floor.

Antetokounmpo missed a 10th straight game on Friday night against the Boston Celtics due to what the team has described as a left knee hyperextension and bone bruise. Antetokounmpo hasn’t played since landing awkwardly during a March 15 victory over the Indiana Pacers.

“I’m healthy,” Antetokounmpo told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and The Athletic before Friday’s game. “I hate it when people force me to do things against my nature. I’m a player. I get paid to play.”

For the last couple of weeks, Antetokounmpo has participated in pregame warmups without showing any apparent signs of injury.

Antetokounmpo also noted that the Bucks should have known this about him since the 31-year-old has spent his entire 13-year career in Milwaukee.

Throughout that time, Antetokounmpo has had a reputation for rapid returns from injury, most notably when he hyperextended his knee during Milwaukee’s 2021 playoff run but missed two games before returning to lead the Bucks to their first title in half a century.

“You know who you’re dealing with,” Antetokounmpo told reporters. “So, for somebody to come and tell me to not play or to not compete, it’s like a slap in my face.”

The Bucks still had a remote chance of earning a 10th straight playoff berth at the time of that Indiana game, but they were officially eliminated from contention last week. There’s also the possibility of Antetokounmpo getting hurt again if he returns to action — he has missed a career-high 41 games this season and had two extended absences due to calf strains.

“I understand the circumstances — yes, we’re not going to be in the playoffs,” Antetokounmpo said. “For some people’s eyes, it’s not worth it for me to be out there. But for me, it’s something that goes against my nature.”

Antetokounmpo also wanted the opportunity to play alongside his younger brother, Alex, who made his NBA debut Sunday. There was a possibility of three Antetokounmpo brothers playing alongside each other in the same game, since Giannis’ older brother, Thanasis, also is on the Bucks.

“When my dad passed away, I pretty much raised (Alex),” Antetokounmpo said. “He’s able to be on the team and suit up and chase an opportunity to be great. You really think I don’t want to suit up and play with my brother? Anybody who thinks that is an idiot.”

Antetokounmpo’s desire to play — and the Bucks’ wishes to rest him — drew the attention of the National Basketball Players Association last month.

“The Player Participation Policy was designed by the league to hold teams accountable and ensure that when an All-Star like Giannis Antetokounmpo is healthy and ready to play, he is on the court,” the union said in a statement. “Unfortunately, anti-tanking policies are only as effective as their enforcement; fans, broadcast partners, and the integrity of the game itself will continue to suffer as long as ownership goes unchecked. We look forward to collaborating with the NBA on meaningful new proposals that will directly address and discourage tanking.”

This dispute between Antetokounmpo and the Bucks comes at a time when his future in Milwaukee is uncertain. Antetokounmpo’s name dominated league-wide discussions leading up to the trade deadline, though the Bucks ultimately kept him.

Antetokounmpo becomes eligible to sign a four-year contract extension worth up to $275 million in October. If he doesn’t sign the extension, Antetokounmpo could become a free agent after the 2026-27 season, or the Bucks could decide to trade him beforehand.

Now they find themselves at odds over how to handle the rest of this season.

“I don’t know where the relationship goes from there,” Antetokounmpo said. “We’ve got to go to couples therapy.”

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Injured Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo, center right, talks with an official, center left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Boston Celtics, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)