Italy's Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini has issued a stunning rebuke to actor Richard Gere who criticised the country's refusal to let in more than 100 migrants stranded at sea.

Golden Globe winner Richard Gere visited a boat with 121 migrants on board in international waters near the Italian island of Lampedusa.

The Hollywood star was pictured delivering food supplies to the migrants on board, who have been rescued by Spanish NGO Open Arms.

Actor Richard Gere visited a boat with 121 migrants on board currently in international waters near the Italian island of Lampedusa. He criticised the country's refusal to let in more than 100 migrants stranded at sea

In a barb to Italy and his own leader President Trump, he said: 'Demonizing people has to stop everywhere on the planet'.

He said: 'These are extraordinary people, they are so strong, they have been such through such horrors.

'Their passage from their home counties to Libya, what they had to endure, the women above all. ... The women had been all raped, multiple times. The men tortured in prison, not just once but multiple times.

'What most people refer to as migrants, I refer to as refugees that are running from a fire.'

The right-wing League leader Matteo Salvini, hit back at Pretty Woman star Richard Gere's criticism and urged Gere to 'support them in his villas'. Salvini is pictured at a political rally in Taormina, southern Italy

The right-wing League leader Matteo Salvini, whose party topped the polls in the recent European elections, hit back and urged Gere to 'support them in his villas'.

Salvini said: 'Given this generous millionaire is voicing concern for the fate of the Open Arms migrants, we thank him: he can take back to Hollywood, on his private plane, all the people aboard and support them in his villas. Thank you Richard!'

Salvini is tipped by many Italian pollsters to win a possible election which could be called when Italy's parliament returns after recess.

Gere is pictured serving meals to migrants on board the stranded ship. A new Italian law permits fines of up to a million euros against the owners of rescue ships operated by nonprofit groups that enter Italy's waters without permission

Gere is pictured helping to carry supplies on board. The ship is currently in international waters. Deputy PM Salvini said he has signed orders specifically banning the Open Arms and the Norwegian-flagged migrant rescue ship Ocean Viking from Italian territory

In a barb to Italy and his own leader President Trump, Gere (pictured above talking with migrants) said: 'Demonizing people has to stop everywhere on the planet'. He said: 'These are extraordinary people, they are so strong, they have been such through such horrors'

Gere gestures as he is surrounded by migrants aboard the stranded rescue vessel

Gere chats with migrants who have been rejected by the Italian and Maltese governments

He is currently in a coalition with left-wing party 'Five Star', whose performance in the European elections slumped to 17 per cent compared to Salvini's league party which took 34 per cent of the vote.

A new Italian law permits fines of up to a million euros against the owners of rescue ships operated by nonprofit groups that enter Italy's waters without permission.

The law is Interior Minister Matteo Salvini's most recent action to stop aid groups' rescue ships, which he claims encourage people smuggling from North Africa and burden Italy with asylum-seekers.

Salvini said he has signed orders specifically banning the Open Arms and the Norwegian-flagged migrant rescue ship Ocean Viking from Italian territory.

He told state broadcaster RAI at the time: 'Italy is not a refugee camp for Europe. Go either to Spain or Norway'.

A father of two, Gere is seen holding up his phone to show the migrants photos of his youngest son, who was born in February

Gere speaks with workers yesterday under the beating sun of the Mediterranean Sea near the Italian island of Lampedusa