Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi said Friday that Egyptians should not be differentiated by religion or gender, and denounced the recent death threats against Copts in Sinai Peninsula.

About nine Christian families in Rafah left their houses earlier on Friday in fear of the death threats made by anti-Copts Islamist militants, who, reportedly, have also attacked a Copt- owned shop.

In Arish city on his third visit to north Sinai, Morsi said Friday the death threats against Copts were "personal behavior" and "a crime," urging that "those responsible should be punished."

Affirming that "whoever carries the Egyptian nationality has the same rights," the Egyptian president pledged that threats against Copts "won't be repeated."

However, Prime Minister Hisham Qandil said the Coptic families left their houses out of their own choice rather than being forced by militants.

Without an official figure, the Coptic population is estimated by local media to account for five to 10 percent of Egypt's overall population of 82 million.

On the security situation in Sinai, Morsi said the armed forces and police have intensified their existence in the region to fight terrorist activities, while the army spokesman Ahmed Mohamed Ali also said on Friday that "Army will not withdraw from Sinai until terrorism is routed."