An AFP photographer said a soldier hit him in the face and leg with a baton and that another photographer lost his hearing after a stun grenade exploded near his head.

The two were covering a weekly demonstration against Israel's controversial separation barrier attended by dozens of Palestinian, foreign and Israeli activists near the southern West Bank town of Beit Umar, outside of Hebron.

An Israeli military spokesman declined to comment directly on the two journalists being wounded, saying only that security forces had dispersed 40 rioters who had entered a closed military zone and thrown rocks at them.

Anyone who chooses to be present in close proximity to conflict areas or violent incidents does so at his or her own risk, he added.

Weekly demonstrations have multiplied across the West Bank in recent years and frequently see Palestinian youths hurling stones at Israeli troops, who fire tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the gatherings.

The Foreign Press Association on Saturday protested what it called a recent policy change by the military and border police.