Special to WorldTribune.com

WASHINGTON — Congress has demanded a U.S. investigation into the use of United Nations facilities by Hamas’ military in the Gaza Strip.

Three senators have called on the administration of President Barack Obama to investigate Hamas storage of rockets at facilities of the UN Relief and Works Agency. The senators said Hamas use of UN schools could endanger U.S. funding to the agency.

“As you know, the United States is the largest donor to UNRWA and has contributed almost $5 billion to the organization since 1950,” Sens. Ben Cardin, Mark Kirk and Marco Rubio wrote to Secretary of State John Kerry.

“The United States taxpayers deserve to know if UNRWA is fulfilling its mission or taking sides in this tragic conflict.”

In a letter in August, the senators cited three incidents in which Hamas rockets were found in UN schools. In all of the incidents, UN staffers were said to have returned the rockets to Hamas.

“We fear that this means these rockets may have found their way back into Hamas’ hands,” the senators wrote.

Members of Congress have long expressed concern over Hamas influence over UNRWA programs, particularly in the Gaza Strip. In 2013, Washington contributed $294 million in wake of Hamas’ takeover of UNRWA’s labor union.

UNRWA has acknowledged the discovery of rockets in schools. But the agency has not blamed Hamas while condemning Israel for air strikes around UN facilities.

“We urge the State Department to launch an independent investigation into these incidents and to call on the United Nations leadership to hold UNRWA accountable, including by reprimanding or dismissing the UNRWA staff responsible as appropriate, as well as asking the UN to ensure that these incidents never take place again,” the letter said.

  John Kerry, Sen. Ben Cardin, Sen. Marco Rubio, Sen. Mark Kirk, Senators call for investigation of whether UN ‘taking sides’ in Gaza war, UNRWA