Tensions between Italy and Malta are flaring anew over the fate of a German rescue ship with 234 migrants aboard that has been denied a port to disembark them.

Malta's home affairs minister, Michael Farrugia, and Italy's transport minister, Danilo Toninelli, engaged in a Twitter war of words Sunday over which country was being more "inhuman" about the fate of the Lifeline and its passengers.

Italy has demanded Malta let the Lifeline dock since it's currently in Maltese waters. Farrugia tweeted Sunday "Why weren't they allowed to dock immediately in Italy, like Italy is now asking Malta? That's the true inhumanity."

Maltese Premier Joseph Muscat sought to lower the rhetoric as he arrived Sunday in Brussels for a migration meeting, saying now was not the time for a "blame game."

For its part, the Lifeline issued a tweet to Italy's hardline interior minister: "Dear Matteo Salvini, we have no meat on board, but humans. We cordially invite you to convince yourself that it is people we have saved from drowning."