The morning began with delays in the Gaza ceasefire as Hamas initially withheld the promised hostage list. By mid-morning, the ceasefire took effect at 10:15, with Hamas naming three women for initial release. The afternoon saw these first hostages transferred to the Red Cross and reunited with their families after 471 days of captivity.
Throughout the day, German media maintained parallel coverage of Trump's anticipated return, with focus shifting from his planned revenge at inauguration to potential impacts on European security and German industry. Financial markets responded to Trump's cryptocurrency ventures, while Maschmeyer warned of heightened risks for German businesses.
TikTok's temporary shutdown in the US reversed following Trump's intervention, while reports emerged of Chinese control capabilities over German solar infrastructure. The SPD's polling numbers dropped to single digits in specific categories.